ON  -A  SOUTH 


PLANTATION 


IRARY 


LIFE    ON    A    SOUTHERN     PLANTATION. 


By  M.  L.  COWLES. 


"  We  often  do  more  good  by  our  sympathy  than  by  our  labors." 

CANON  FAKRAR. 


BOSTON,  MASS.: 

a  gtriritehing 

COPLEY  SQUARE, 
1893. 


1S93 
V 
Cotules, 


ARENA  PRESS. 


THIS   SKETCH   OF   SOUTHERN  LIFE 

IS  DEDICATED 

TO   MY  FOUR  DAUGHTERS, 

WHOSE   HEARTS   FIND   NO   DIVIDING   LINE 

BETWEEN  NORTH  AND   SOUTH. 


RED-RANK. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  WHAT  an  amount  of  patience  one  needs  in  this  world ! 
Here  I've  been  waiting  fifteen  minutes,  at  least,  and  it  is 
probable  I  shall  have  to  wait  fifteen  minutes  longer  be 
fore  he  comes.  The  lazy  boy  !  But  I  will  not  call  him. 
I  will  not  remind  him  of  his  appointment,  if  he  does  not 
care  to  keep  it." 

As  she  spoke  she  tapped  the  end  of  her  foot  with  her 
riding-whip,  in  vexation. 

"  And  the  day  is  so  beautiful,  too — just  the  thing  for 
a  ride  through  the  pines.  O,  Harry  !  Harry  !  if  only  you 
could  be  made  over !  if  you  had  a  little  less  physical 
beauty  and  a  few  solid  virtues  !  Such  as  punctuality,  for 
instance."  Jessie  Holcombe  looked  almost  tearful  as 
she  spoke  these  last  few  words  ;  they  evidently  came 
from  the  bottom  of  a  very  full  heart — a  heart  not  merely 
filled  with  momentary  annoyance,  but  deeply  wounded 
by  the  faults  of  another. 

She  was  a  handsome  girl,  and  her  riding  habit  became 
her  well ;  it  revealed  not  only  beauty  of  form,  but  a  cer 
tain  clear  outline  of  character.  She  was  simple  and 
stately — a  little  sedate  in  manners,  a  little  severe  in 


6  LiEDBANK. 

morals.  Her  complexion  was  very  pure  and  beautiful, 
with  the  rich,  warm  Undertone  which  betokens  perfect 
health.  Her  features  were  clearly  and  beautifully 
chiseled;  about  the  mouth  especially,  there  were  lines 
of  sweetness  and  strength  which  were  in  themselves 
a  revelation  of  character.  Her  large  dark-brown  eyes, 
veiled  by  delicate  lids  and  long  lashes,  were  full  of  that 
strange  radiance  which  we  call  soul.  As  j^ou  looked 
into  their  wonderful  depths,  you  recognized  a  strong  and 
lofty  spirit,  already  trained  to  tenderness  and  patience, 
in  the  stern  school  of  life. 

For  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  longer  she  stood  almost 
motionless ;  at  length,  weary  of  waiting,  she  gathered 
up  her  skirt,  and  walked  slowly  down  the  steps  of  the 
piazza  out  into  the  yard.  Turning  a  corner  of  the  house, 
she  got  a  view  of  the  stables  in  the  rear.  Yes,  the 
horses  were  both  ready  ;  Peyton  was  standing  quietly, 
— holding  the  reins  and  waiting  for  the  riders  to  come. 
She  moved  down  the  broad  carriage-way,  nodding 
pleasantly  to  the  groom. 

"  Well,  Peyton,  did  you  think  I  was  never  coming  ?  " 
she  asked. 

The  man  only  grinned ;  he  was  a  negro,  and  with 
him  a  grin  meant  all  kinds  of  things.  As  an  answer, 
it  was  far  better  than  a  long  string  of  words.  Its  am 
biguity  was  faultless.  If  language  was  invented  to 
conceal  one's  thoughts,  how  much  more  perfect,  for 
such  a  purpose,  is  the  negro's  grin. 

"  How  is  Dolly  to-day  ?  "  she  inquired  after  a  moment, 
approaching  a  beautiful  black  mare,  and  laying  her 
hand  lovingly  on  the  glossy  mane. 

"  She's  all  right,  Miss  Jessie — jes'  ready  for  a  gallop 
dis  minute." 

"  I  see  she  is.     You  do  take  splendid  care  of  her, 


ttEBBANK.  1 

Peyton,"  continued  the  girl ;  "  she  is  always  perfectly 
groomed.  I  thank  you  more  than  I  know  how  to  ex 
press." 

Again  the  negro  grinned,  but  there  was  a  difference 
this  time.  Before,  he  was  slightly  deprecating  the  ne 
cessity  of  waiting  so  long  when  there  was  so  much  work 
to  be  done ;  now,  his  dusky  countenance  was  illumined 
with  veritable  pleasure  at  the  lady's  approval.  He  had 
a  great  admiration  for  his  beautiful  young  mistress,  and 
a  word  of  praise  from  her  lips  was  worth  more  to  him 
than  his  month's  wages. 

"  She  is  a  beauty,  isn't  she  ?  "  said  Jessie,  after  caress 
ing  the  horse  for  a  few  minutes. 

"  No  use  ter  talk  'bout  dat — no  horse  like  her  roun' 
dis  plantation,"  replied  the  negro.  "  Ef  you  wants  ter 
sell  her,  dere's  plenty  would  like  to  buy  her,  I  can  tell 
you  dat,  Miss  Jessie." 

"  Money  could  not  buy  her,  Peyton, — I  love  her 
too  dearly  to  sell  her  for  any  price.  You  know  she 
used  to  belong  to  my  brother — the  one  who  was  killed 
in  the  war.  She  was  a  mere  colt  then.  He  was  riding 
her  in  a  cavalry  charge,  when  the  ball  struck  him.  She 
is  not  as  young  as  she  once  was.  Ah  !  Dolly,  you  are 
growing  old."  And  again  the  hand  was  laid  lovingly 
on  the  animal's  shapely  head. 

"  Come,  Peyton,  lead  her  to  the  block  ;  I  will  get  up 
and  arrange  myself.  Perhaps  by  that  time  my  cavalier 
will  come." 

She  was  just  ready  to  start,  when  a  young  man,  whist 
ling  gayly,  came  out  of  the  back  door  of  the  house,  and 
rapidly  crossed  the  grass  to  the  stables. 

"  Have  I  kept  you  waiting  ?  "  he  cried,  quickening 
his  pace. 

"  Look  at  your  watch  and  see.     It  must  be  an  hour 


8  &EDBANR. 

behind  the  time.  Fortunately  lam  your  sister,  or  you 
would  not  escape  punishment." 

"  A  thousand  pardons !  "  he  exclaimed,  removing  his 
hat  and  bowing  gracefully.  "  I  was  writing  a  letter,  and 
it  was  a  devilish  hard  task.  Casting  my  eyes  up  to  the 
ceiling  for  an  idea,  I  happened  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
clock — and,  behold  me." 

"  Well,  pray  don't  keep  me  waiting  any  longer,  or  the 
sun  will  be  ready  to  set,"  said  the  young  lady,  smiling 
and  accepting  his  apology  without  any  comment. 

The  gentleman  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  and  the 
two  cantered  off  together.  Peyton  stood  still,  a  few 
moments,  watching  them  as  they  went  down  the  long 
avenue  to  the  road  ;  then,  turning  away,  he  said  to  him 
self  in  a  low  tone — "  I'd  never  take  dem  for  brudder 
and  sister,  if  dey  didn't  look  so  much  alike.  Now,  clere's 
Miss  Jessie — I'd  like  to  work  fur  her  always,  'thout  any 

pay ;  but  Marse  Harry "  here  he  shook  his  head,  and 

left  the  sentence  unfinished. 

Once  in  the  open  road,  the  two  riders  dashed  off  in  a 
gallop,  and  were  soon  lost  to  sight. 

"  Which  way  ?  "  asked  the  young  man. 

"  By  the  mill." 

When  they  were  in  sight  of  the  mill,  they  slackened 
their  speed,  and  came  down  to  a  walk. 

"  I  do  like  this  dear  old  mill  so  much,"  said  Jessie  ; 
"  the  building  itself  is  just  as  picturesque  as  it  can  be, 
with  that  creeper  running  all  over  it.  and  the  group  of  fine 
old  sweet-gum  trees  growing  so  near.  Then  the  big  pond, 
and  the  waterfall  and  the  stream  rushing  so  madly  over 
the  rocks — the  clatter  of  the  wheels  andgrinding-stones, 
and  the  cool  drip,  drip,  drip  of  the  water.  The  last 
touch  of  beauty  is  added  by  the  low-roofed  cottage  of  the 
miller  up  there  on  the  slope  under  the  trees.  It  is  just 


KEDBANK.  9 

the  loveliest  spot  on  the  whole  plantation.  I  feel  as  if 
I  must  have  a  glimpse  of  it  every  day,  or  else  I've  been 
defrauded  of  something." 

"  Somehow,  I  don't  like  it,"  said  her  companion ; 
"  I  never  come  this  road,  if  I  can  help  it ;  I  have  an  un 
canny  feeling  about  it,  especially  at  night:  as  if  some 
thing  dreadful  had  happened  here,  or  were  going  to 
happen.  I  don't  know  which." 

"  Why,  something  dreadful  did  happen  here,  ever 
so  long  ago,"  answered  Jessie.  "  Perhaps  your  feeling 
comes  from  that." 

"  Perhaps,"  he  answered  carelessly. 

"  You  have  heard  all  about  it,  haven't  you  ?  "  she 
asked  with  quickened  interest. 

"  In  a  vague  kind  of  way,"  he  replied ;  "  but  I'm  not 
fond-  of  dreadful  things,  even  in  story  books,  so  I've 
never  heard  the  full  account." 

"  Why,  it  was  in  the  lifetime  of  the  Colonel's  grand 
father,  who  was  a  dreadfully  wicked  old  man,  they  say. 
He  used  to  beat  his  slaves  and  maltreat  even  his  wife 
and  daughter.  Well,  it  was  summer-time,  and  there  had 
been  a  long  and  terrible  drought ;  for  many  weeks,  not 
a  drop  of  rain  had  fallen,  and  the  cotton  was  burning  up 
in  the  fields.  The  old  man  was  in  a  rage  from  morning 
till  night  because  it  did  not  rain.  He  used  to  walk  the 
}ii/,7,a,  and  curse  and  swear  at  the  heavens.  At  last  one 
day  a  little  cloud  appeared  in  the  sky,  and  soon  grew 
into  great  masses,  black  with  thunder  and  lightning. 
The  storm  broke  with  perfect  fury  over  the  country ; 
the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  beating  down  the  cotton  into 
the  very  ground;  the  wind  was  like  a  hurricane,  up 
rooting  trees,  and  sweeping  away  buildings.  The  mill- 
pond  rose  so  fast  and  high  that  the  miller  was  frightened, 
and  rushed  home  to  his  family,  but  he  never  reached 


1U 

them  ;  he  was  blown,  into  the  pond  and  drowned.  The 
mill  went  down  with  a  great  crash ;  the  miller's  house, 
his  wife,  and  five  little  children  were  all  carried  off  by 
the  flood.  It  is  a  story  that  Aunt  Lucy  loves  to  tell. 
The  old  man  was  ruined,  and  he  died  soon  afterwards. 
The  only  daughter  was  Colonel  Winston's  mother,  and 
that's  the  way  he  happens  to  own  this  plantation.  He 
himself  rebuilt  the  mill,  many  years  ago." 

"  Yes,  I've  heard  it  all  before,"  replied  Harry  Hoi- 
combe,  in  an  absent  way.  By  this  time  they  had  passed 
the  mill,  crossed  the  rude  bridge  over  the  stream,  and 
were  in  the  woods  beyond. 

"  Come,  let's  have  another  gallop,"  said  the  gentle 
man. 

"  A  trot  this  time,"  cried  the  girl,  as  the  two  horses 
started  off.  Soon  they  were  dashing  over  the  white 
sandy  road  which  wound  through  a  wood  of  tall  pines, 
such  as  are  often  seen  in  the  eastern  portions  of  the 
Southern  states.  For  simple  and  imposing  beauty,  no 
forest  equals  that  of  the  noble  pine  ;  the  tall  and  stately 
trunks,  the  crown  of  dark  feathery  foliage  ;  the  absence 
of  undergrowth  revealing  the  massive  pillars,  together 
form  a  vast  natural  cathedral,  which  produces  an  im 
pression  of  solemnity  and  awe.  The  prolonged  moan 
that  lingers  forever  in  the  lofty  aisles  seems  to  come 
from  an  invisible  organ. 

When  they  reached  the  depths  of  the  wood,  both 
riders  felt  this,  and  brought  their  horses  to  a  walk. 
For  a  long  time  they  rode  side  by  side  without  speaking. 
Jessie  broke  the  silence. 

"  Harry,"  she  said  in  her  simple,  direct  way,  "  I  wish 
you  would  not  manage  to  vex  the  Colonel  so." 

"  Why,  what  have  I  done  now  ?  "  he  asked,  impatiently, 
removing  his  hat  and  tossing  back  his  hair. 


REDBANK.  .        11 

"  I  don't  know  ;  only  I  heard  him  say,  this  morning, 
that,  if  you  were  his  son,  he  would  give  you  a  good 
thrashing." 

"  I  daresay  he  would.  Thank  heaven  that  I  am  not 
his  son ! "  cried  the  young  man  with  levity  and  indif 
ference. 

"  But,  Harry,  since  you  are  in  his  house  and  eat  his 
bread,  you  ought  to  try  to  please  him." 

"  An  angel  could  not  do  that,  Jessie,  far  less  a  poor 
sinner  like  me." 

"  Well,  you  might  try,  dear,  not  to  put  him  in  a  rage 
as  you  often  do." 

"  I  don't  put  him  in  a  rage,  he  puts  himself  into  one. 
If  he  finds  his  overcoat  hanging  on  the  second  instead 
of  the  third  peg  from  the  hall  door,  he  gets  into  a  rage 
and  begins  to  abuse  me.  If  his  riding-whip  is  found 
lying  on  the  hall-table,  instead  of  standing  handle  down 
in  one  special  corner,  he  gets  into  a  rage  and  abuses  me." 

"  Well,  if  he  gets  angry  so  easily,  you  ought  to  be 
careful  not  to  disturb  anything  that  belongs  to  him. 
Harry,  you  are  not  exactly  perfect." 

"  If  I  don't  know  that  already,  it  isn't  because  you 
haven't  told  me  often  enough.  Damn  the  fussy  old 
Colonel,"  he  exclaimed  after  a  moment's  pause. 

"  If  you  feel  like  that,  you  ought  not  remain  under 
his  roof.  Why  don't  you  go  somewhere  else  ?  " 

"  Where  the  deuce  am  I  to  go  ?  " 

"  The  world  is  all  before  you  where  to  choose,"  she 
answered. 

"  Well,  what  if  it  is  ?  I  know  precious  little  about 
any  of  it — only  a  small  portion  of  Virginia,  and  this 
little  cotton-patch  in  Georgia." 

"  How  little  adventure  you  have  about  you !  "  she 
exclaimed  impatiently.  "  Oh,  if  I  were  only  a  man  !  " 


12  REDBANK. 

"  What  would  you  do,  pray  ?  " 

"At  least,  I'd  earn  an  honest  living,  and  not  live  on 
other  people." 

"  How  would  you  do  it  ?     Let's  hear,  please." 

"  There  are  ten  thousand  kinds  of  service  by  which 
a  man  can  make  himself  useful  in  the  world,  and  thus 
earn  his  own  bread." 

"Which  one  would  you  choose?" 

"  The  one  I  liked  the  best — the  one  that  would  help 
me  to  grow  nobler  and  better  every  day." 

"  How  clear  and  definite  you  are !  "  he  answered. 
"  You  would  go  somewhere — do  something — the  something 
that  would  help  you  to  grow  nobler  and  better  every 
day.  Now,  if  I  had  come  to  you  for  advice — which  I 
haven't — I  would  go  away  mightily  aided  by  what  you 
have  said," — and  he  began  to  whistle  softly. 

"  Well,"  she  continued  after  a  short  pause,  "  if  you 
do  not  know  where  to  go  and  are  determined  to  stay 
here,  why  don't  you  try  to  help  the  Colonel.  There  are 
many  ways  in  which  you  could  do  that,  now  he  has  no 
overseer." 

"  The  old  fool,  to  send  away  such  a  good  fellow  as 
Sam  Griffin  !  Why,  Jessie,  he  won't  let  anybody  help 
him.  As  for  me,  he  does  not  think  that  I  have  sense 
enough  to  turn  over  an  ash-cake." 

"  He  does  not  think  that  you  want  to  do  anything 
but  ride  around,  and  smoke,  and  hunt,  and  read  novels. 
Prove  to  him  that  he  is  mistaken.  He  did  give  you  the 
charge  of  the  mill  at  one  time,  and  how  did  it  turn  out? 
That  surely  was  your  fault,  not  his." 

"  Yes,  set  me  to  watch  a  thief  of  a  nigger !  I  value 
my  brains  too  much  to  waste  them  on  that  kind  of 
work.  Besides,  you  know  I  hate  the  very  sight  of  that 
infernal  old  mill ;  its  clatter  drives  me  almost  mad." 


KEDBANK.  13 

She  made  no  reply  to  tliis  remark.  After  all,  what 
was  the  use  of  talking  ? 

Presently  he  turned  to  her,  and  said,  "  I  know  per 
fectly  well  what's  the  matter  with  the  Colonel  just  at 
present." 

"  What  is  it  ?  ".  she  asked,  quickly  ;  "  he  seems  to 
have  lost  all  his  old  geniality  of  manner." 

"It  is  only  the  lack  of  money,  my  dear.  'It  is  amaz 
ing  how  a  little  '  filthy  lucre  '  in  one's  pocket  improves 
one's  temper.  But  he  need  not  quarrel  with  me.  If  he 
only  knew  it,  I  could  give  him  profound  sympathy, 
for  I'm  in  the  same  box  myself." 

"  But  do  you  think  that  he  is  really  in  debt?  He 
must  be  rich — he  has  so  much  land — thousands  of  acres." 

"  Yes ;  but  land  does  not  enrich  one  at  this  time.  It 
is  the  very  cause  of  his  embarrassment.  If  he  would 
sell  half  of  it,  he  would  be  far  better  off." 

"  But  he  spends  money  so  freely,"  said  the  girl ; 
"  surely  that  does  not  look  as  if  he  needed  it." 

"  That  only  shows  what  an  old  fool  he  is.  He  would 
have  enough,  if  he  did  not  pitch  it  out  in  the  road." 

"  You  are  right,"  she  said,  slowly  and  sadly,  "  but  I 
suppose  he  has  always  been  accustomed  to  scatter  it 
around  freely,  and,  at  his  age,  it  is  hard  to  change." 

"Well,  I'm  sorry  for  him,"  replied  the  young  man, 
"  but  I  don't  see  how  I  can  help  him." 

"  I  am  sure  you  could  if  you  would  only  try,  Harry 
dear,"  she  said,  very  gently ;  "  and  you  would  be  so 
much  happier,  and  I  would,  too."  She  looked  at  him 
with  a  world  of  tenderness  in  her  dark  eyes,  but  he  did 
not  respond  to  the  appeal. 

"  Do  let's  go  faster,"  he  exclaimed,  after  a  short 
silence,  as  if  weary  of  the  conversation,  and  they 
galloped  on  again  until  their  horses  were  well-spent. 


14  EEDBANK. 

When,  at  length,  they  fell  into  a  walk,  Harry,  said, 
very  quietly,  "  Look  here,  Jessie,  you  need  not  bother 
your  pious  little  soul  about  me.  I  suppose  I  ought  to 
feel  complimented  to  be  the  object  of  so  much  solici 
tude,  but,  to  tell  the  truth,  it  makes  me  confoundedly 
uncomfortable.  Would  you  really  like  to  know  what 
I  am  going  to  do  ? '; 

"  Indeed  I  would,"  she  answered. 

"  Now,  this  is  a  secret  between  us  two,  remember," 
he  continued.  "  I  would  not  tell  anybody  else  in  the 
world  but  you."  Here  he  paused  as  if  reluctant  to  speak. 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid  that  I  will  betray  any  secret 
of  yours,  Harry  dear,"  she  said,  looking  at  him  wistfully. 

"  I  know  that  well  enough,  but  there  are  some  things 
a  fellow  does  not  care  to  talk  about,  even  to  his  sister. 
However,  I  want  to  relieve  some  of  your  excessive 
anxiety — I'm  afraid  it  keeps  you  awake  at  night ;  so 
here  goes.  You  know  Alice  Brooks,  of  course.  Well, 
I  have  serious  intentions  in  that  direction.  She  is 
a  nice  little  thing,  and  rich  for  these  times  in  the 
South — a  plantation  or  two,  and  some  bank  and  rail 
road  stock.  I  know  all  about  it.  Now,  I'm  going  to 
fall  in  love  with  her,  and  win  her  pretty  little  hand, 
sure  as  shot." 

"  But  she  will  never  marry  you,  Harry." 

"Yes,  she  will;  she  likes  me  right  well  now,  and  I 
know  I  can  make  her  like  me  better,  if  I  try." 

"  But  surely,  Harry,  you  are  not  going  to  marry  her 
for  her  money." 

"  By  no  means  would  I  do  such  a  very  wicked  thing," 
he  said,  with  a  low  laugh.  "  I  am  going  to  love  her  with 
all  my  might,  and  marry  her  in  spite  of  her  money !  " 

"  Then  I  hope  you  will  try  to  make  yourself  worthy 
of  her,  for  she  is  a  lovely  girl,"  said  Jessie. 


EEDBANK.  15 

"  Yes,  I  know  that,"  he  replied,  and  then  relapsed 
into  silence. 

They  had  now  made  a  wide  circuit  around  the  mill 
side  of  the  plantation,  and  were  nearing  the  house.  As 
Jessie  thought  of  her  brother's  words,  her  heart  grew 
lighter  and  happier  than  it  had  been  for  a  long  time. 
The  knowledge  that  he  was  really  in  love  with  a  high- 
minded  girl,  made  her  have  hopes  of  his  salvation.  A 
man  generally  shows  what  is  in  him,  when  he  selects 
his  wife.  If  Harry  could  only  win  Alice  Brooks,  Jessie 
felt  convinced  that  such  a  wife  would  have  great  influence 
over  him.  But  how  about  Alice  herself  ?  Would  there 
not  be  a  terrible  risk  for  her  in  the  union  ?  Assuredly 
there  would.  But  if  they  truly  loved  each  other,  there 
would  be  a  holy  power  around  them  which  would  save 
them  both,  for  Jessie  Holcombe  believed  in  the  divine 
source  of  human  love. 

These  thoughts  were  in  her  mind  when  the  horses 
stopped  in  front  of  the  house ;  with  her  brother's  assistance 
she  alighted,  and  ran  up  the  steps  of  the  piazza,  humming 
an  old  song,  her  cheeks  glowing,  and  her  heart  full  of 
bright  hopes  for  the  future. 

As  she  was  crossing  the  broad  hall  of  the  old  planta 
tion  house,  on  her  way  upstairs,  she  met  her  little  niece, 
Lilian,  who  was  crying  bitterly. 

"  What  is  it,  darling  ? "  asked  Jessie,  seating  her 
self  on  the  steps  and  taking  the  child  in  her  arms  ;  "  tell 
me  all  about  it,  and  I  will  make  it  right  again." 

"  Papa  has  kicked  Tasso,"  cried  the  child.  "  And 
broken  his  leg." 

"  Oh !  dear,  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  exclaimed  Jessie, 
springing  up  with  an  angry  flash  in  her  eyes.  "  Come, 
let's  go  right  away  and  see  what  can  be  done.  Does 
mamma  know  about  it  ?  " 


16  RED  BANK. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  child,  sobbing  still  louder,  "  she 
is  trying  to  mend  it  now  out  in  the  gardener's  house." 

They  went  together  to  the  garden  where  there  was  a 
small  house  in  which  the  gardener  kept  his  tools.  There 
was  a  lady  within,  and  a  colored  man  who  held  a  dog 
in  his  arms ;  the  former  was  trying  to  bandage  the 
broken  leg,  which  the  latter  was  holding  firmly  in  place 
between  the  splints. 

"  Oh,  Eleanor ! "  cried  Jessie,  "  do  let  me  help  you !  " 

"  It  is  done  now,"  said  the  lady,  quietly.  Her  voice 
suited  her  face  and  her  manner,  both  of  which  were  very 
sweet  and  serene.  "  But  I  do  not  think  he  will  live 
through  it — he  is  such  a  restless  creature.  Can  you  tie 
him  up  now,  Reuben,  so  he  will  not  be  able  to  get  these 
splints  out  of  place  ?  " 

"  I'll  try  ter,  mistis  ;  but  I'd  jes'  kill  him,  ef  I  was  you, 
an'  save  him  from  all  de  sufferin',  fur  dis  is  a  mighty 
bad  break." 

"  We  will  wait  until  to-morrow,  at  least.  Perhaps 
you  can  give  him  something  to  ease  the  pain,  and  put 
him  to  sleep  to-night !  " 

"  Let  me  take  him  ter  my  house,  mistis.  I'll  do  all  I 
can  ter  help  him  along." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you,  Reuben,  I'm  sure  you  will," 
exclaimed  the  lady,  the  tears  coming  into  her  eyes. 

"  Lor  !  mistis,  dat's  nothin'  at  all,"  replied  the  man ; 
"  I'd  do  more'n  dat  fur  you  any  day." 

"  Uncle  Reuben,"  said  Jessie,  as  the  negro  began  to 
move  off  with  the  dog  in  his  arms,  "  don't  kill  him  unless 
it  is  absolutely  necessary." 

"  I  won't,  Miss  Jessie  ;  you  may  take  my  word  for  it." 

Here  Lilian  began  to  sob  anew,  and  it  required  all 
Jessie's  tact  to  subdue  her  grief.  She  carried  off  the 
child  into  the  house,  and  up  to  her  own  room,  where 
she  managed  to  amuse  her  until  the  bell  rang  for  supper. 


CHAPTER  II. 

REDBANK  was  an  old  Georgia  plantation  house,  in  one 
of  the  counties  which  lie  along  the  Savannah  River.  It 
was  built  on  a  generous  scale  ;  square  and  substantial,  it 
rose  to  a  goodly  height  in  a  grove  of  fine  old  trees.  It 
was  painted  white  with  green  blinds,  and  entirely  sur 
rounded  by  broad  piazzas.  A  large  hall  with  a  hand 
some  staircase  ran  through  the  center  of  the  house. 
Spacious  rooms  were  ranged  on  each  side  of  this  hall ; 
an  upper  hall  and  rooms  corresponded  with  those  below. 

Colonel  Winston,  the  owner  of  Redbank,  had  been 
a  very  wealthy  man  in  the  old  days  before  the  war,  and 
this  had  been  his  favorite  residence.  Here  he  had 
entertained  his  friends  with  princely  hospitality.  In  all 
the  country  around,  there  had  been  no  house  so  hand 
some,  no  yard  so  full  of  choice  plants  and  flowers,  no 
stables  so  filled  with  fine  horses  and  carriages. 

The  Colonel  had  been  young  and  fast  in  those  days, 
and  had  enjoyed  life  very  keenly.  Now  he  was  almost 
fifty  years  old,  and  things  did  not  move  so  smoothly  as 
they  had  once  done. 

He  had  lived  through  the  war,  and  had  helped  to 
fight  the  battles  of  the  South.  He  had  suffered  defeat, 
and  humiliation,  and  loss  of  property.  All  this  had 
made  him  hard  and  bitter.  The  pain  of  old  Avounds 
robbed  his  days  of  ease ;  the  thought  of  what  he  had 
lost,  robbed  his  soul  of  peace.  He  was  a  stout  old  rebel, 

2 


18  BEDBANK. 

not  yet  reconstructed ;  every  bone  in  his  body  was  stiff 
with  pride  and  defiance.  Just  before  the  war  began,  he 
had  married  a  woman  much  younger  than  himself. 
How  it  ever  happened,  no  one  knew, — they  were  so 
unlike. 

They  met  at  the  Virginia  Springs  one  summer ;  in  the 
autumn  they  were  married.  He  had  carried  her  away  to 
Redbank,  where  she  had  lived  ever  since — through  the 
long  years  when  her  husband  was  fighting  on  the  banks 
of  the  Potomac  or  the  James,  and  through  the  longer 
years  that  had  since  followed.  He  had  been  wounded 
more  than  once,  but  never  so  badly  but  that  he  could 
come  to  her  ;  it  had  not  been  necessary  for  her  to  go  to 
him.  The  colorless  plantation  life  had  dulled  her  once 
buoyant  spirits,  and  subdued  a  nature  that  had  been 
proud  and  wilful.  Six  children  had  come  to  them,  but 
one  by  one  they  had  died  in  her  arms ;  only  two  were  now 
left — Lilian  a  delicate  girl  of  seven,  and  a  fine  baby 
boy,  still  in  the  cradle. 

Several  years  after  the  war  was  ended,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Winston  in  the  distant  Virginia  home,  had  died; 
the  mother  had  soon  followed.  By  these  bereavements, 
a  brother  and  a  sister,  both  much  younger  than  herself, 
were  left  orphans.  Then  the  heart  of  Eleanor  Winston 
awoke  within  her.  She  yearned  for  the  love  and 
companionship  of  her  kindred.  She  wrote  them  to 
come  and  henceforth  make  their  home  with  her;  they 
gladly  accepted  the  invitation.  More  than  a  year  had 
since  passed.  Harry  Holcombe,  the  brother,  was  a 
young  man  of  twenty-five,  Jessie,  the  sister,  was  twenty ; 
and  yet  to  look  at  them  one  would  have  felt  almost 
inclined  to  reverse  their  ages.  Harry,  though  pos 
sessing  a  remarkably  fine  physique,  was  so  light- 
hearted,  so  pleasure-loving,  so  boyish  in  all  his  ways, 


REDBAXX.  19 

that  lie  could  easily  have  passed  for  twenty;  while 
Jessie,  unnaturally  developed  by  that  stirring  period, 
possessed  the  manners  and  character  of  a  mature 
woman.  It  is  strange  that  the  same  outward  circum 
stances  should  so  differently  impress  two  human  souls. 
One  year  of  service  in  the  Confederate  Army  before  the 
final  collapse,  had  tinged  the  brother  with  an  insouciance, 
a  reckless  dash,  which  he  promised  to  carry  with  him 
through  life.  To  the  sister  that  year  of  terrible  anxiety 
and  suffering  had  given  an  earnestness  of  thought  that 
had  transformed  the  little  maiden  into  a  woman. 

Existence  at  Redbank  was  by  no  means  congenial  to 
either  of  them.  The  loneliness  of  the  plantation  and 
the  absence  of  social  gayety,  together  with  the  irritability 
of  their  brother-in-law,  and  the  sadness  of  their  sister, 
made  the  current  of  every-day  life  far  from  smooth  and 
pleasant  in  its  flow  :  but  they  possessed  only  a  small  for 
tune  between  them — not  enough  to  make  them  indepen 
dent  and  able  to  choose  a  home  elsewhere  in  the  world. 
Jessie  realized  the  situation  more  keenly  than  her 
brother  did,  and  often  urged  him  to  go  away,  and  find 
some  congenial  employment  for  himself.  She  would 
have  been  content  to  remain  and  bear  the  frictions  of 
her  lot,  if  he  had  only  decided  to  leave  Redbank  and 
make  for  himself  a  career  and  a  name  in  the  great 
world.  She  loved  him  and  was  ambitious  for  him ;  it 
grieved  her  to  see  him  waste  his  youth  and  talents  in 
inglorious  ease.  But  her  efforts  were  all  in  vain ;  she 
could  not  arouse  him  from  the  torpor  of  inactivity. 
He  would  listen  to  her  tender  chidings  with  an  amused 
expression  upon  his  handsome  face,  and  then  continue 
to  follow  his  easy  and  aimless  course. 


20  REDBANK. 

It  was  long  after  dark  when  the  supper-bell  rang, 
and  the  family  assembled  in  the  large  square  dining- 
.room.  It  was  mid-winter,  and  a  wood  fire  was  blazing 
on  the  hearth.  Jessie  and  Harry  came  first  ;  soon 
Lilian  bounded  in,  followed  by  her  mother.  They  all 
stood  around  the  fireplace,  chatting  pleasantly,  for  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes,  before  the  Colonel  appeared.  Then 
a  hush  fell  upon  them;  even  Oliver,  the  old  butler, 
straightened  himself  up  and  grew  more  solemn  in  man 
ner  ;  for  the  master  was  evidently  in  a  bad  humor.  Lilian 
alone  seemed  unconscious  of  his  imposing  presence. 

Colonel  Winston  was  tall,  thin,  and  erect,  with  spare 
gray  locks  and  a  long  gray  beard.  His  eyebrows  were 
very  thick  and  still  black,  standing  like  a  hedge  over 
small  but  brilliant  black  eyes.  His  whole  face  had  a 
keen,  proud,  distinguS  air  ;  he  looked  more  like  a  foreign 
nobleman  than  a  Southern  planter.  Impatient,  irascible, 
exacting  at  home,  he  was  polished,  suave,  and  genial 
in  society.  His  character  was  full  of  inconsistencies, 
which  one,  who  was  not  brought  into  familiar  inter 
course  with  him,  readily  forgot  in  the  indescribable 
charm  of  his  manners  and  conversation.  Though  quick 
to  anger  and  entirely  devoid  of  self-control,  he  had  a 
kind  and  generous  heart ;  as  husband,  father  and  master, 
he  was  at  times  very  indulgent. 

In  silence,  the  family  seated  themselves  at  the  table. 
It  was  an  attractive  board,  with  its  snowy  napery,  its 
old  china  and  silver,  and  its  wax  candles  in  tall  silver 
candlesticks.  This  evening  meal,  commonly  called 
supper,  was  almost  a  dinner  in  the  profusion  of  its 
viands.  Cold  meats,  jellies,  and  jams  were  accompanied 
by  hot  breads  of  every  kind,  from  the  light  roll  to  the 
flannel-cake. 

Lilian  sat  on  the  right  hand  of  her  father.     In  her 


REDBANK.  21 

childish  innocence,  she  was  unconscious  of  the  chilling 
atmosphere  around  him.  She  broke  the  silence  by  a,sk- 
ing — "Papa,  did  you  know  you  broke  Tasso's  leg,  when 
you  kicked  him  ?  "  No  response  came,  and  she  quickly 
added,  "  It  was  a  very  bad  break  too — Uncle  Reuben 
said  so.  Perhaps  Tasso  will  die ;  you  would  be  sorry 
then,  wouldn't  you  ?  "  Still  her  father  made  no  reply. 
He  appeared  more  awful  than  ever ;  and,  looking  up  at 
Oliver,  he  said  severely,  "'  Why  don't  you  attend  to 
your  business,  sir  ?  Don't  you  see  I  want  some  butter  ?  " 
The  servant  moved  quickly,  and  passed  the  desired  dish. 

At  the  other  end  of  the  table,  Mrs.  Winston  and 
her  sister  were  talking  in  very  low  tones  about  the  last 
Harper,  which  had  just  come,  and  which  contained  some 
articles  they  wished  to  read  together.  Harry  was  eat 
ing  his  supper  with  great  enjoyment,  apparently  obliv 
ious  of  the  presence  of  any  one  else.  He  had  nothing 
but  contempt  for  his  brother-in-law's  weaknesses,  and 
always  managed  to  make  the  latter  understand  the 
fact.  His  own  faults  were  of  a  different  character  ;  he 
felt  a  kind  of  superiority  on  this  account.  Though 
every  day,  he  broke  at  least  half  the  laws  of  the  dec 
alogue  ;  yet,  in  the  small  affairs  of  family  life,  he  was 
always  gracious  and  obliging. 

Presently  Lilian  spoke  again.  "  Papa,"  she  said, 
"  you  know  Tasso  belongs  to  me.  Uncle  Hal  gave 
him  to  me,  and  I  love  him  dearly.  If  he  dies,  I'll  cry 
my  eyes  out.  Do  you  hear  ?  " 

"  Eat  your  supper,"  answered  her  father,  sharply ; 
"  it  seems  to  me  you  talk  too  much  for  a  child  of 
your  age." 

Such  a  reproof  was  rare  to  her,  and  she  looked  up  at 
him  with  a  surprised  expression  in  her  brown  eyes. 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  you  talk  enough  for  a  gentleman 


22  REDBANK. 

of  your  age,"  she  said,  laughing  ;  "  does  he,  Uncle  Hal  ?  " 

The  remark  was  too  amusing  not  to  excite  a  smile. 
Even  old  Oliver  moved  off  into  a  corner  to  hide  the 
irrepressible  grin.  Pleased  with  the  effect  of  her  words, 
Lilian  continued,-  "  Papa,  what's  the  matter  with  you 
to-night  ?  Has  somebody  kicked  you  ?  " 

Before  a  reply  could  be  made  the  door  opened  and  the 
nurse  entered  with  Master  Francis,  the  baby.  He  was 
a  fine  boy  of  six  months.  Glad  to  be  out  of  the  dull 
nursery,  and  in  the  midst  of  this  cheerful  company,  he 
began  to  shake  his  little  hands  and  feet,  and  to  crow 
with  all  his  might. 

"What  in  the  world  did  you  bring  him  down  here 
for?"  asked  Mrs.  Winston.  "He  will  get  so  wide 
awake  that  he  will  never  go  to  sleep." 

"Well,  mistis,"  the  nurse  replied,  "he  jes  kep'  fret- 
tin'  so  I  was  afeerd  he'd  begin  ter  cry,  and  dat  would 
worry  you." 

"  Do  let  me  have  him,"  pleaded  Jessie.  "  I  know  he 
will  be  good  with  me."  Mrs.  Winston  assented,  and  it 
was  amusing  to  see  the  little  gentleman's  appreciation 
of  the  situation.  He  laughed  and  gurgled,  and  snatched 
at  things  in  a  charming  way  that  soon  attracted  the 
attention  of  every  one,  and  partially  dispelled  the  gloom 
that  had  settled  upon  the  family  party.  Knives  and 
forks  and  spoons  were  sent  rattling  to  the  floor ;  at- 
last,  when  a  plate  followed,  it  seemed  time  to  put  a  stop 
to  the  fun.  Eleanor  arose,  and  taking  him  in  her  arms, 
said,  "  Well,  baby,  you  have  done  mischief  enough  now. 
You  must  come  back  to  the  nursery  with  me,  and  go  to 
sleep  like  a  good  boy." 

She  bore  him  away,  while  the  others  got  up  from  the 
table.  The  Colonel  went  into  the  library,  a  large  front 
room  connected  with  the  dining-room  by  folding  doors. 


23 

Here  he  kept  his  books,  his  desk,  his  papers,  and  here 
he  smoked  and  sulked  to  his  heart's  content.  Jessie, 
Harry,  and  Lilian  crossed  the  hall  to  the  back-parlor, 
where  they  usually  spent  the  evening  together. 

u  Give  us  some  music,  Jessie,"  said  her  brother.  "  Music 
hath  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast,  you  know." 

She  seated  herself  at  the  piano,  while  he  threw  him 
self  lazily  upon  the  sofa.  Lilian  came  and  sat  down 
beside  him.  While  Jessie  played  Mendelssohn's  Songs 
without  Words,  in  an  endless  succession,  these  good 
comrades  had  a  delightful  time  with  each  other.  Lilian 
pulled  his  hair,  pinched  his  nose,  blew  into  his  ears,  and 
tickled  him  with  a  broom-straw,  while  he  pretended  to 
be  asleep  and  snored  most  fearfully.  Now  and  then,  he 
would  jump  at  her  like  a  hungry  wolf,  and  she  would 
run  away  as  if  terrified  beyond  measure.  When  lie 
subsided  and  lay  down  again,  she  would  return  slowly, 
and  the  same  play  was  repeated.  At  length  she  grew 
tired  of  this  game  ;  then  he  took  her  in  his  arms  and 
began  to  tell  her  stories.  It  was  sweet  to  see  them 
together.  The  understanding  between  them  seemed 
perfect,  and  the  love  unutterable. 

Finally,  the  eyes  of  the  child  grew  heavy  and  the 
little  head  fell  upon  his  breast,  where  it  nestled  tenderly, 
while  again  and  again  he  softly  kissed  the  pretty  red 
lips.  At  nine  o'clock  he  arose,  and  gently  carried  her 
upstairs  to  be  put  to  bed.  Then  he  returned  to  the 
sitting-room  for  a  talk  with  Jessie — perhaps,  to  be 
scolded  by  her,  which  he  generally  bore  with  great 
patience.  He  did  not  mind  it  much  ;  it  was  like  the 
patter  of  the  rain-drops  to  him,  scarcely  arousing  him 
from  his  own  thoughts  and  fancies.  At  ten  o'clock 
they  both  retired.  This  was  the  usual  order  of  events 
in  the  household  at  Redbank. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  next  afternoon,  Lilian  came  to  Harry,  who  was 
dozing  on  the  sofa  in  the  back-parlor  with  a  handker 
chief  over  his  face,  and,  arousing  him,  asked  if  he  would 
not  go  with  her  to  the  Quarter  to  see  how  Tasso  was. 
He  arose  with  a  bound,  shook  himself,  and  said — "  You 
naughty  Puss!  What  did  you  wake  me  for?  I  was 
dreaming  about  my  sweetheart.  She  was  going  to  say 
something  very  nice  to  me  and  now  I  shall  never  know 
what  it  was ! "  She  laughed  heartily  at  this. 

"  But,  say,  won't  you  go  with  me  ? "  she  cried. 
"  Aunt  Jessie  is  busy  reading  to  mamma,  and  you 
know  I  cannot  go  alone." 

"  I  am  your  most  obedient  servant,"  he  said,  with  a  low 
bow.  Then  he  took  her  up  in. his  arms,  and  kissed  her. 
"  Run  and  get  on  your  things,  and  we  will  be  off.  I'll 
take  my  gun  along,  and  perhaps  we  will  kill  some 
birds." 

The  Quarter  was  a  kind  of  negro  village  such  as  was 
found  on  eveiy  large  Southern  plantation.  It  consisted 
of  one  long  street  with  a  row  of  log  cabins  on  each  side. . 
At  Redbank,  the  Quarter  was  half  a  mile  in  the  rear  of 
the  house,  and  was  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful 
oak  grove.  The  road  that  led  to  it  was  called  the  red 
lane.  Lilian  was  very  fond  of  this  walk;  there  was  a 
noisy  little  brook  to  be  cross'ed,  which  always  afforded 


REDBANK.  25 

her  much  excitement.  She  was  soon  ready  to  start,  and 
came  bounding  out  of  the  house  to  join  her  uncle. 

He  was  standing  011  the  back  piazza,  with  his  gun 
upon  his  shoulder  and  several  eager  dogs  around  him. 
He  took  her  little  hand  in  his,  and  they  went  across  the 
back-yard,  out  of  the  gate,  and  down  the  red  lane,  chat 
ting  all  the  while  like  good  comrades,  unmindful  of  any 
difference  in  age  or  condition.  Harry  Holcombe  loved 
his  little  niece  better  than  any  one  on  earth.  Her  per 
fect  confidence  was  inexpressibly  dear  to  him.  She  al 
ways  had  a  welcome  for  him,  and  a  smile  and  a  kiss. 

He  felt  happy  this  afternoon  as  she  skipped  along 
beside  him.  Presently  he  raised  his  gun,  as  if  to  fire  at 
a  little  bird  that  was  sitting  on  the  fence.  "May  I  kill 
him?  "  he  asked.  "  No,"  she  answered  with  a  shake  of 
the  head,  "  not  that  one.  Wait  a  while."  Soon  the 
question  was  asked  again.  The  reply  was  always  the 
same — "  No,  not  that  one."  He  seemed  to  understand 
her  perfectly,  and  smiled  under  his  dark  mustache,  while 
a  soft  light  shone  in  his  eyes.  In  a  little  while  they 
came  to  the  brook ;  then  they  had  a  merry  time  ;  she 
was  greatly  excited  about  crossing  it ;  there  was  no 
bridge,  only  a  narrow  log  spanned  the  few  feet  to  the 
other  side.  She  watched  the  dogs  go  over,  and  then 
stepped  upon  the  log  very  bravely ;  but  her  heart  failed 
her  and  she  jumped  down  again.  Her  uncle  looked  at 
her  lovely,  innocent  face,  flushed  with  exercise  and 
excitement,  and  thought  he  had  never  seen  anything  so 
beautiful.  "  Let  me  carry  you  over  on  my  shoulder," 
he  said  at  length,  when  he  saw  plainly  that  her  courage 
was  not  equal  to  the  occasion.  "  Oh,  no  !  "  she  replied, 
shrinking  back,  "  you  would  drop  me." 

"  Well,  then,  you  walk  on  the  log,  and  I  will  hold 
your  hand  and  see  that  you  do  not  fall.  Look,  I  have 


26 

on  high  top  boots,  and  the  water  is  not  deep ;  I  can 
easily  wade."  This  plan  seemed  to  suit  her,  so  they 
were  soon  on  the  other  side. 

The  Quarter  was  very  quiet,  as  they  entered  it ;  only 
a  few  women  were  moving  about  and  a  few  children 
playing  in  groups  here  and  there. 

The  young  man  had  a  pleasant  greeting  for  every 
one.  As  they  approached  the  cabin  of  Uncle  Reuben, 
they  heard  the  buzz  of  a  wheel.  "  Aunt  Lucy  is  spin 
ning  ! "  cried  the  child.  "  Oh  !  how  nice  !  I  love  to  see  her 
spin  !  Don't  you  think  the  rolls  are  pretty,  Uncle  Hal  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do,"  he  answered. 

The  old  negress  gave  them  a  cordial  welcome,  and 
brought  them  stools  near  the  half -open  door.  But  in  a 
moment  she  exclaimed,  as  if  in  a  kind  of  panic — "  Look, 
here,  Marse  Harry,  you  jes,  take  dat  gun  outer  dis  house. 
You  suppose  I'se  gwine  ter  be  shot,  ef  I  can  help  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  Aunt  Lucy,  I'm  not  going  to  shoot  you,"  the 
young  man  answered,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  dunno  'bout  dat,"  she  said,  doubtfully ;  "  ef  you 
don't  look  out,  'fore  long,  you'll  shoot  yourself  or  some 
body  else  ;  Marse  Harry,  you  ain't  haf  'ticular  'nuff  ter 
suit  me." 

To  please  the  old  negress,  he  got  up  and  set  his  gun 
outside. 

Aunt  Lucy  was  an  odd-looking  little  woman,  with  a 
turned-up  nose,  and  a  little  set-back  to  her  head,  that 
gave  her  an  aggressive  air.  She  had  a  brisk  way  of 
stepping  around,  and  was  rather  hard  on  those  whose 
movements  were  more  measured.  Among  the  negroes, 
she  was  not  popular,  having  the  reputation  of  being  very 
proud,  and  inclined  to  interfere  with  the  affairs  of  other 
people.  It  was  said  that  Uncle  Reuben  was  dreadfully 
henpecked. 


27 

"  How  is  Tasso,  Aunt  Lucy  ?  "  asked  Lilian,  almost 
before  they  were  seated. 

"  I  knowed  dat  dog  brought  you  here,"  the  old  woman 
replied,  with  a  hearty  chuckle.  "  Tasso's  'sleep  over 
dere  in  that  corner ;  Reuben,  he  gin  him  somethin'  ter 
put  him  ter  sleep,  an'  he's  dat  quiet,  you'd  never  know 
he'd  a  leg  broke.  I  reckon  he'll  git  over  it.  Ef  any 
body  can  help  him,  Reuben  can." 

"  May  I  go  and  see  him  ?  "  asked  the  child,  timidly, 
for  she  was  a  little  afraid  of  Aunt  Lucy. 

"  Course  you  can,  honey,"  was  the  reply  ;  and  Lilian 
crept  softly  to  the  corner  where  the  dog  lay.  He  was 
in  a  low  basket,  and  the  splint  to  which  his  leg  was 
bound  fitted  tightly  into  the  bottom  of  the  basket,  so 
that  he  could  not  move  the  wounded  limb  in  the  least. 
He  was  dozing  quietly,  and  the  child  turned  away, 
perfectly  satisfied  that  nothing  more  could  be  done  for 
him. 

While  this  little  scene  was  taking  place,  Harry  had 
fallen  into  easy  conversation  with  the  old  woman. 

"  Well,  how  wags  the  world  with  you  to-day,  Aunt 
Lucy  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Why,  I'se  right  smart,  Marse  Harry,"  she  replied, 
her  dusky  face  illuminated  with  pleasure  at  his  interest. 

"  I  must  say  you  look  pretty  comfortable,"  he  con 
tinued,  surveying  the  room  on  all  sides.  "  I  wouldn't 
be  ashamed  to  live  in  such  a  house  myself."  The  cabin 
was  very  neat,  and  even  possessed  some  touches  of 
beauty.  In  one  corner,  there  was  a  little  cupboard,  with 
a  few  blue  cups  and  saucers  displayed  upon  its  shelves ; 
and  a  bright  square  of  rag  carpet  lay  in  the  middle 
of  the  room.  Near  the  door,  was  the  spinning-wheel 
with  a  pair  of  cards  and  a  pile  of  cotton  rolls  lying 
011  the  floor.  At  one  end  of  the  cabin,  there  was  an 


28  REDBANK. 

immense  fireplace,  where  a  few  chunks  were  slowly 
smouldering  away.  A  great  iron  pot  suspended  from  a 
crane,  swung  over  the  fire,  and  a  savory  odor  escaped 
from  its  lid.  Aunt  Lucy,  to  whom  idleness  was  "odious, 
soon  took  up  her  cards  and  began  to  turn  off  the  beautiful 
rolls,  while  she  talked  to  her  company.  Lilian  watched 
her  with  intense  delight,  and  begged  now  and  then  to 
hold  one  of  the  fleecy  things  in  her  hands.  This  amused 
the  old  negress  very  much,  and  she  laughed  heartily  at 
the  child's  innocent  interest  in  what  was  to  her  a  com 
monplace  employment. 

"  How  good  your  supper  smells,  Aunt  Lucy  !  "  said 
Harry,  with  an  appreciative  sniff.  "  Do  tell  me  what 
you  have  in  that  great  pot  ?  " 

"  Why,  Marse  Harry,  dat's  only  a  chicken  an'  some  rice. 
I'se  gwine  ter  give  Reuben  some  pillau  for  his  supper. 
Reuben  likes  dat  sometimes  for  a  change.  I  raises 
chickens,  you  know." 

"  Please  invite  me  to  the  feast,"  said  the  young  gentle 
man  ;  "  pillau  is  my  soul's  delight." 

"  De  lor  !  Marse  Harry,  as  if  you'd  eat  anything  in 
dis  house." 

"  Just  try  me  and  see.  I'm  sure  there's  enough  in 
that  big  pot  for  Uncle  Reuben  and  me  too." 

The  old  woman  laughed  and  said,  "I  s'pose  you 
don't  consideh  Dinah  and  Milly," — referring  to  her  two 
daughters. 

"  Oh !  that  pot  holds  enough  for  us  all,"  he  replied, 
gayly,  for  he  dearly  loved  to  joke  with  the  negroes, 
with  all  of  whom  he  was  a  great  favorite. 

"  De  lor' !  Marse  Harry,  I  isn't  got  plates  fitten  fur  de 
quality  to  eat  out'n,"  she  exclaimed  with  another  chuckle. 

"  Well,  I  see  plainly  you  are  not  in  a  hospitable  mood 
to-day,"  he  said,  rising  to  go. 


BEDltANK.  29 

"  No,  don't  go  yit,"  she  pleaded ;  "  I'se  hardly  got 
a  good  look  at  you  an'  Miss  Lilian." 

He  sat  down  again,  saying  pleasantly,  "  I  declare, 
Aunt  Lucy,  you  do  look  immensely  comfortable." 

"  Pshaw,"  she  answered,  "  you  knows  well  'nuif 
dere's  allus  plenty  ter  want.  I  keeps  pretty  busy 
a-wantin'  all  de  time," — and  she  laughed  again.. 

Her  wholesome  chuckle  formed  a  kind  of  running 
accompaniment  to  the  conversation. 

"  That's  the  way  with  most  of  us,"  said  Harry  ;  "  but 
what  do  you  want  in  particular  just  at  this  time  ?  It 
seems  to  me  you.  are  better  off  than  most  of  the  dark 
ies.  You've  got  the  best  house  in  the  whole  Quarter." 

"  An'  not  much  of  a  house  at  dat,"  returned  the  old 
woman  in  a  very  dry  tone.  "  Dat  chimley  it  do  smoke 
fitten  ter  drive  a  body  out  o'  doors,  an'  I'se  got  ter  habe 
a  winder  dat  I  can  see  out'n — not  dat  plank  in  dar,  but 
rale  glass  like  dat  in  de  white  folks's  houses.  Why,  I 
has  ter  work  winter  well  as  summer,  an'  how  can  a  body 
see  wid  de  door  shut  in  sich  a  house  as  dis,  an'  how  can 
I  habe  de  door  open  in  de  winter? — Mought  pritty  nigh 
as  well  live  out  in  de  road." 

"  Well,  those  are  real  grievances,"  said  the  young 
man,  with  a  genuine  touch  of  sympathy. 

"  I  reckon  dey  is,"  she  replied,  with  emphasis ; 
"  besides,  Marse  Harry,"  she  continued,  not  having  yet 
finished  the  list  of  her  wants,  "  I  doesn't  hab  clo'es  'miff 
ter  keep  an  ole  critter  like  me  warm  in  de  winter." 

"  Well,  winter  is  almost  over  now,"  said  Harry,  "  in 
the  summer  you  don't  need  much." 

"  He's  a-comin'  agin,  sure,"  she  returned — speaking 
of  winter. 

"  But  you  are  not  old,  Aunt  Lucy." 

"  Yes,  I  is,  Marse  Harry  ;  I'se  nigh  on  ter  fifty." 


30  XEDliAXK. 

"  I  must  say  you  are  pretty  smart  for  your  age. 
We  heard  you  spinning  as  we  came  up  the  red  lane. 
Do  you  really  spin  on  that  old  shackley  wheel  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  What  else  is  dere  ter  spin  on  ? "  she  answered. 
"  Why,  I  spins  an'  weaves  nigh  'bout  all  de  clo'es  I  gits. 
Reuben,  he  don't  gin  me  nothin' — he  jes  buys  'bacco — 
chaws  all  de  time,  Reuben  does." 

Harry  caught  sight  of  a  corn-cob  pipe  on  the  bench  of 
the  wheel,  and  was  bold  enough  to  ask,  "  Well,  don't 
you  smoke,  Aunt  Lucy  ?  " 

"  'Course  I  does,"  she  answered,  briskly ;  "  I'se  not 
gwine  ter  let  Reuben  chaw  an'  I  not  smoke." 

"  Perhaps  if  you  stop  smoking,  he  will  stop  chewing," 
said  the  young  man,  enjoying  the  conversation  im 
mensely. 

"  Now,  Marse  Harry,"  exclaimed  the  old  woman  em 
phatically,  "you  don't  know  nothin'  'tall  'bout  Reuben. 
He  wouldn't  stop  chawin'  ef  I  stopped  eatin' ;  he'd  jes, 
be  glad  I'd  lef  all  de  wittles  fur  him." 

The  gentleman  could  not  help  laughing,  and  Aunt 
Lucy  joined  him  most  heartily. 

"  I  think  I  shall  have  to  see  Uncle  Reuben  and 
give  him  a  lecture  ;  he  is  evidently  in  a  very  bad  way." 

"Well,  Reuben,  he  likes  fur.de  white  folks  ter  notice 
him,"  said  the  old"  woman,  "but  I  tells  you,  Marse 
Harry,  he's  a  hard  case.  Eben  Brudder  Jerry,  he  can't 
move  Reuben.  Reuben  he  won't  eben  go  ter  hear 
Brudder  Jerry  pritch.  Sometimes  I  axes  him  whar  he 
specks  he'se  gwine  when  he  dies ;  in  de  groun'  he  says, 
an'  dat's  all  he  knows  an'  cares  'bout  de  matter.  He'll 
fin'  hisself  in  a  part  o'  de  groun'  whar  it's  pritty  hot, 
I'se  afeard."  The  inevitable  chuckle  followed  these 


REDBANK.  31 

Seeing  that  Lilian  was  no  longer  playing  with  the 
pretty  gray  kitten,  and  thinking  that  she  must  be  tired, 
Harry  now  arose  to  go. 

"  You  mus'  come  agin  ter  see  me,"  Aunt  Lucy  said,  as 
she  shook  hands  with  them  both  and  wished  them 
good  luck. 

The  walk  home  was  delightful  beyond  expression  to' 
the  little  maiden.  Harry  took  her  round  by  the  long 
road,  as  it  was  called  by  the  negroes.  It  skirted  the  edge 
of  a  dense  forest  on  one  side,  and  the  broad  and  now 
brown  cotton  fields  on  the  other.  The  dogs  were  all  the 
while  rushing  into  the  woods  and  barking  furiously  at  the 
abundant  game.  This  excited  the  child  beyond  measure, 
and  she  kept  asking  her  uncle  what  was  the  matter  with 
them.  At  length,  a  rabbit  ran  across  the  road,  and  be 
fore  Lilian  could  cry  out,  the  dreadful  gun  was  fired,  and 
the  poor  little  creature  dropped  dead.  She  laid  her  hand 
gently  on  its  soft  fur,  and  looked  at  its  beautiful  eyes, 
still  wide  open  ;  but  she  said  nothing,  for  she  realized 
that  it  was  now  too  late  to  remedy  the  mischief. 

Presently  they  passed  a  persimmon  tree,  and  the  young 
man  shook  down  some  of  the  well-dried  fruit,  of  which 
she  was  very  fond.  He  even  hunted  in  his  pocket  for 
a  piece  of  paper,  in  which  she  could  wrap  up  some  to 
carry  home  to  mamma  and  Aunt  Jessie. 

They  were  obliged  to  cross  the  little  brook,  three 
times,  and  each  time  on  stepping-stones.  She  was 
merry  over  it  all,  and  did  not  realize  that  she  was 
getting  tired ;  but,  that  evening,  after  supper,  there 
was  no  play  in  the  back  parlor  with  Uncle  Hal.  The 
little  head  had  grown  heavy  before  the  meal  was  over, 
and  had  sunk  wearily  upon  the  table.  Then  Harry  had 
taken  her  up  in  his  strong  arms,  and  carried  her  off  to 
the  nursery.  He  even  helped  to  undress  her — taking 


32  EEDBANK. 

off  the  little  shoes  with  the  gentleness  of  a  woman,  and 
kissing  each  of  the  clear  little  bare  feet.  When  she  was 
snugly  tucked  into  bed  he  closed  the  door  softly,  and 
went  downstairs.  That  evening,  he  dozed  on  the  sofa, 
while  Jessie  again  played  the  8onys  without  Words. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  There  is  no  jovial  companionship  equal  to  that  where  the  jokes 
are  rather  small  and  the  laughter  abundant." — W.  IKVING. 

A  FEW  weeks  later,  Mrs.  Winston  gave  a  dinner-party 
to  her  friends  and  neighbors.  The  twenty-second  of 
February  was  the  Colonel's  birthday,  consequently  it 
had  always  been  duly  celebrated  by  a  big  u  dining," 
such  as  the  planters  of  the  South  delighted  in.  Now, 
when  Mrs.  Winston  gave  a  dinner,  the  hour  was  always 
five  o'clock,  and  a  long  evening  of  gayety  for  the  young 
people  followed. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-second,  the  guests 
began  to  arrive  a  little  after  four,  and  so  rapidly  and 
promptly  did  they  appear  that  the  front  parlor  was 
soon  filled,  and  old  Oliver,  with  great  solemnity, 
opened  the  massive  sliding-  doors  into  the  back  parlor. 
These  rooms  were  well-furnished  for  those  days,  and 
looked  thoroughly  comfortable  with  the  beautiful  wood 
fires  that  were  blazing  on  the  generous  hearths.  It 
was  rather  a  dark  afternoon,  threatening  rain,  but  the 
gloom  outside  was  effectually  excluded  by  the  closed 
blinds,  and  the  heavy  crimson  damask  curtains.  Lamp 
light  and  firelight  together  made  a  brilliant  interior. 

The  company  consisted  of  eight  or  ten  gentlemen 
and  as  many  ladies.  •  With  the  exception  of  a  few  of 
the  young  men,  they  were  all  old  and  familiar  friends. 

Some  were  neighbors  on  adjoining  plantations,  and  some 

3 


34  EEDBANK. 

were  from  the  city,  which  was  ten  miles  distant.  The 
greetings  were  cordial,  and  conversation  flowed  easily. 
A  confused  hum  of  voices,  mingled  with  occasional 
peals  of  laughter,  filled  the  rooms.  The  host  and  host 
ess  moved  here  and  there  among  the  guests,  and  ex 
changed  a  thousand  graceful  civilities.  In  this  atmos 
phere  of  light,  social  gayety,  they  seemed  to  be  breath 
ing  their  native  air;  smiles,  laughter,  gestures,  conver 
sation,  were  all  alike  delightfully  spontaneous.  Soon 
the  company  began  to  break  up  into  groups,  standing 
under  the  chandeliers  and  around  the  tables.  Colonel 
Winston  became  the  centre  of  a  party  of  gentlemen,  all 
of  whom  were  in  a  most  genial  mood.  There  was  some 
thing  really  boyish  in  their  bantering  tones  and  hearty 
laughter.  One  of  the  number  was  a  gentleman  of  strik 
ing  appearance  ;  he  was  tall  and  finely  formed,  with  a 
massive,  statesman-like  head  adorned  with  long  gray 
hair.  His  manners  were  easy  and  dignified,  with  now 
and  then  a  touch  of  playfulness.  This  was  Judge 
Brooks,  a  friend  from  the  neighboring  city.  The  other 
gentlemen  were  less  notable.  Major  Allison  was  a 
large  but  unsuccessful  planter.  Dr.  Crump  was  the 
leading  physician  of  the  county.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter 
was  the  rector  of  a  fashionable  city  church  which  Mrs. 
Winston  and  the  Colonel  sometimes  managed  to 
attend. 

"  Well,  Major,"  said  the  host,  "  it  seems  an  age  since 
I  have  seen  you.  We  are  immensely  glad  to  have  you 
with  us  again.  How  did  you  find  the  roads  ?  " 

"  It  took  us  just  two  hours  and  a  half  to  drive  ten 
miles — think  of  that." 

"  Ah  !  the  roads  must  be  rather  bad,  then,"  said  Mr. 
Hunter. 

"  Perfectly  abominable  !      A  disgrace   to  the  state. 


REDBANK.  35 

Biit  it  is  only  one  of  the  abominations  of  this  abomin 
able  age  in  which  we  live." 

Every  one  laughed  at  the  Major's  emphatic  manner. 
He  was  known  far  and  wide  as  an  incorrigible  pessi 
mist. 

"  Well,  who  is  responsible  ?  "  asked  some  one. 

"Who  is  responsible  for  anything  nowadays!"  ex 
claimed  the  Major,  with  a  touch  of  scorn ;  "  that  is 
more  than  I  can  tell,  I'm  sure.  With  free  niggers  on 
one  side,  and  ruined  Southerners  on  the  other,  every 
thing  that  ought  to  claim  attention  is  let  alone.  Where 
the  general  let-alone  system  is  going  to  land  us,  I'm 
sure  I  don't  know." 

"  So  you  don't  like  these  degenerate  times,  Major  ?  " 
said  the  Judge  in  his  calm,  smooth  tones. 

"  Like  it  ? "  cried  the  Major,  his  delicate  nostrils 
quivering  with  indignation,  "  who  does  like  it,  I  want 
to  know  ?  Things  were  different  when  I  was  young. 
I'd  like  to  go  back  to  those  days." 

"  Most  of  us  would  like  the  fun  of  being  young 
again,"  replied  Judge  Brooks,  smiling  pleasantly  and 
glancing  at  the  other  gentlemen. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Major,  still  hot  and  flurried,  "  you 
people  of  the  city,  professional  men,  lawyers  and  doc 
tors,  don't  feel  the  full  weight  of  these  hard  times ;  but 
we  planters  do.  We  are  simply  ruined."  It  had 
always  been  hard  times  with  the  Major,  who  had  an  ex 
travagant  wife  and  several  daughters  who  were  follow 
ing  in  their  mother's  footsteps. 

"But  are  you  not  getting  used  to  being  ruined?," 
asked  the  Judge.  "  You  have  been  singing  that  old 
song  ever  since  I  first  knew  you.  The  tightest  shoe 
becomes  comfortable  after  it  has  been  worn  a  long1 
while." 


,]6  REDHANK. 

"  That  depends  upon  the  foot,'*  said  the  Major  with 
;i  laugh.  "  Now  my  foot  is  too  old,  and  too  full  of  corns 
for  a  tight  shoe  ever  to  become  comfortable ;  and  just 
so,  I'm  too  old  and  crotchety  ever  to  get  used  to  being 
poor,  and  I  seem  to  be  coming  to  that  very  fast.  I 
don't  know  how  to  wait  on  myself,  even  if  I  wanted 
to." 

The  Major  had  the  floor,  and  continued  to  pour  out  a 
dismal  story  of  his  trials  and  troubles.  Judge  Brooks 
presently  .joined  a  group  of  young  girls  who  were  clus 
tered  around  a  center-table  in  the  back  parlor. 

"  Well,  what  are  the  pretty  magpies  chattering  about 
now  ?  "  he  asked,  embracing  them  all  in  his  kindly 
smile. 

"  Spring  dresses,  of  course,"  answered  Miss  Nettie 
Hunter,  a  petite  and  pretty  blonde.  She  was  the  only 
daughter  of  the  clergyman  ;  but  in  spite  of  the  spiritual 
atmosphere  in  which  her  life  dad  been  spent  it  must  be 
confessed  that  she  was  somewhat  worldly  and  strongly 
imbued  with  vanity  and  coquetry.  "  You  have  a  judicial 
mind,  Judge  Brooks  ;  can  you  not  help  us  in  our  decis 
ions  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  As  if  you  needed  any  help  on  a  subject  which  you 
have  all  mastered  long  ago,"  he  replied ;  "  why,  I  feel 
so  ignorant  in  your  presence  that  I  cannot  even  listen 
intelligently.  You  speak  in  an  unknown  tongue." 

"  How  I  pity  a  person  who  has  never  experienced  the 
delights  of  shopping,"  exclaimed  Miss  Bessie  Allison,  a 
dark-eyed  girl  who,  although  not  pretty,  was  exceedingly 
well-dressed. 

"  And  who  never  felt  the  sweet  consciousness  of  look 
ing  like  a  bit  of  rainbow,  fallen  down  to  the  earth," 
said  Miss  Nettie  Hunter. 

"  Poor  fellow  !"   cried  the  doctor's  young  and  beau- 


UK  DRANK.  37 

tiful  wife,  whose  toilette  was  always  a  marvel  of  style 
and  color. 

"  Don't  pity  me  too  much,"  replied  the  Judge,  laugh 
ing  ;  "  I  can  at  least  admire  the  bits  of  rainbow  when  I 
see  them  floating  along  our  streets." 

"  Do  tell  me,"  said  Miss  Nettie,  "what  is  your  favorite 
color,  for  I  am  very  anxious  to  please  you." 

"  That  you  always  do,  my  dear,"  he  answered.  "  I 
don't  think  it  depends  in  the  least  on  the  dress  you 
wear.  A  simple  maiden  in  her  prime  is  lovely  in  any 
dress." 

"  But,"  persisted  Miss  Nettie,  with  a  coquettish  turn 
of  her  head,  and  a  saucy  smile, "  I'm  not  a  simple  maiden 
— most  people  consider  me  a  very  affected  one  ;  and  I'm 
not  in  my  prime  either — I'm  over  twenty — that's  passee 
isn't  it  ?  So  I  insist  upon  knowing  your  favorite  color." 

The  Judge  looked  at  her  with  an  amused  twinkle 
in  his  gray  eyes.  "  My  preference  changes  like  a 
woman's  moods,"  he  answered  in  his  bland  tones ; 
"  now  it  is  blue,  now  it  is  red,  now  it  is  yellow,  and  now 
it  is  all  seven  colors  combined.  Everything  depends 
upon  the  person  who  wears  it." 

"  You  do  not  assist  us  in  the  least,"  exclaimed  Miss 
Bessie  Allison. 

"  On  the  contrary,  you  add  to  our  perplexity,"  said 
Miss  Hunter ;  "  it  is  just  like  a  lawyer  to  make  confu 
sion  doubly  confused." 

"  There,  I  shall  have  to  retreat  in  order  to  preserve  my 
reputation  for  wisdom,"  he  replied,  with  a  smile.  At 
that  moment,  a  young  gentleman  approached  the  table, 
and  Judge  Brooks  resigned  his  place.  "  Here,  Mr. 
Miller,"  he  said,  "  cannot  you  aid  these  fair  ones  ?  If 
you  have  an  eye  for  color,  now  is  the  time  to  prove  it." 

Mr.  Miller  was  a  slender  youth,  with  a  large  mouth 


38  HEDBANK. 

and  a  faint  mustache,  but  his  soul  was  gallant,  and  he 
slipped  with  delight  into  the  place  vacated  by  the  Judge, 
and  the  chatter  went  on.  Soon  other  gentlemen  joined 
the  group,  and  they  became  almost  noisy  in  their  merri 
ment. 

As  Judge  Brooks  turned  away,  he  noticed  a  lady  and 
gentleman  seated  alone,  near  a  distant  window,  par 
tially  concealed  by  the  heavy  curtains.  They  seemed 
so  absorbed  in  their  tete-d-tete  that  they  were  entirely 
oblivious  of  the  presence  of  others.  A  shadow  passed 
over  the  Judge's  face  as  he  recognized  his  niece  and 
Harry  Holcombe.  He  felt  very  much  like  interrupting 
their  conversation,  but  he  did  not.  He  went  to  a  distant 
corner,  sat  down  beside  a  table  littered  with  news 
papers  and  magazines  and  began  to  turn  them  over 
mechanically.  Presently  he  got  up  and  went  into  the 
next  room,  again  seating  himself  in  an  easy-chair  apart 
from  the  other  guests.  He  was  evidently  waiting  for 
some  one  ;  occasionally,  he  looked  through  the  open  door 
into  the  hall ;  he  was  watching  the  staircase,  and  lis 
tening  for  a  light  footstep.  The  signal  for  passing  into 
the  dining-room  had  been  given,  and  the  company  were 
moving  onward  in  pairs,  when  Judge  Brooks  caught  the 
sound  for  which  he  had  been  listening.  A  young  girl 
in  white  descended  the  staircase ;  he  stepped  into  the 
hall  to  meet  her,  and  gave  her  his  arm  with  the  greeting 
— "  The  late  Miss  Jessie  Holcombe." 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head ;  "  I'm 
very  sorry,  but  really  it  was  not  my  fault.  Eleanor 
would  have  me  arrange  my  hair  in  this  way,  and  Lizzie 
fussed  and  fussed  over  it.  I  could  not  get  away  from 
her.  She  declared  before  I  came  down  that  I  looked 
like  a  perfect  fright.  Do  I  ? "  she  asked,  looking  up 
into  his  face  with  the  innocence  of  a  little  child. 


HEDBANK.  39 

"  A  dreadful  fright  !  "  answered  the  gentleman 
soberly,  standing  off  at  a  little  distance  and  surveying 
the  crimps  and  curls,  which  in  truth  lie  thought  amaz 
ingly  becoming.  "  If  I  were  not  a  very  brave  man,  I 
would  turn  my  back  and  run  away." 

"  Now  I  know  you  are  jesting,"  she  said,  breaking  into 
a  little  laugh ;  "  I  thank  you  ever  so  much  for  waiting 
for  me.  On  your  arm,  I  shall  be  able  to  face  the  crowd 
without  any  sense  of  shame," — and  she  smiled  up  at  him 
as  a  daughter  might  have  smiled  upon  her  father.  They 
moved  on  into  the  dining-room,  where  the  guests  were 
now  seating  themselves  around  a  table,  heaped  with 
fruits  and  flowers,  and  sparkling  with  glass  and  silver. 
Miss  Holcombe  nodded  her  greetings  to  each  friend,  and 
found  her  place ;  she  was  glad  it  was  beside  the  Judge. 

There  was  a  little  silence  while  the  napkins  were  un 
folded,  and  then  the  ladies  began  a  conversation  about 
the  flowers.  In  the  center  of  the  table  there  was  a  great 
vase  filled  with  the  choicest  roses ;  at  a  little  distance 
from  this,  there  were  slender  antique  pitchers  of  silver 
from  which  sprung  creamy  hyacinths  with  ferns  and  rib 
bon  grasses  waving  among  them  ;  at  the  corners  of  the 
table,  in  low  glass  dishes,  were  heaps  of  English  violets. 
Each  lady  was  eager  to  say  something  about  her  conser 
vatory  or  pit,  and  to  tell  about  her  own  particular  method 
of  managing  bulbs  and  slips. 

When  the  hum  of  voices  somewhat  subsided,  Major 
Allison,  whose  seat  was  some  distance  from  the  Colonel, 
called  out  in  his  high,  harsh  tone, — "  How  do  you  like 
your  new  overseer,  Colonel?" 

"  Oh  !  he's  a  right  good  fellow,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but 
he  has  departed  this  life." 

"  What !  dead  !  "  cried  a  chorus  of  voices. 

"  Yes,  dead  to  us,"  said  the  Colonel,  with  a  touch  of 


40  HEDBAXK. 

mock  solemnity.  "  He  died  of  disgust  of  free  niggers 
and  cotton.  I  only  engaged  him  for  a  year  on  trial,  and 
his  time  was  up  a  few  weeks  ago.  Neither  of  us  wished 
to  renew  the  engagement.  He's  gone  back  where  he 
came  from.  The  truth  is,  he  did  not  know  anything 
about  planting  cotton,  or  managing  the  hands.  He  is  a 
city  fellow.  I  believe  most,  of  his  life  has  been  spent 
behind  a  counter,  measuring  calico.  Why  under  the 
heaven  he  wanted  to  turn  overseer,  I  cannot  guess.  His 
talents  certainly  do  not  lie  in  that  direction.  In  fact, 
he  is  made  of  superfine  clay — has  nice  white  hands  and 
little  feet.  My  wife  thinks  him  a  very  superior  young 
man."  Here  the  Colonel  laughed. 

Mrs.  Winston  answered  with  some  warmth,  "  Indeed 
I  do  ;  Mr.  Griffin  is  not  only  well-bred  and  well-educated, 
but  he  has  the  best  heart  in  the  world." 

"  You  see,"  continued  the  Colonel  in  a  jocular  tone, 
"  he  used  to  cater  for  my  wife — ride  around  the  plantation, 
and  buy  up  eggs  and  chickens  and  such  things,  and  go 
off  to  the  city  for  her  whenever  she  wanted  a  lemon  or 
a  nutmeg.  In  return,  she  used  to  overwhelm  him  with 
delicate  attentions.  Of  course,  he  thought  her  an  angel. 
Don't  you  think  it  was  time  for  me  to  send  him  off  ?  " 

"  What  !  because  he  thought  your  wife  an  angel !  "  ex 
claimed  the  Judge  ;  "  then,  you'll  have  to  send  a  few 
more  of  us  off.  All  the  ladies  are  angels,  are  they  not? 
That  used  to  be  the  good  old  orthodox  opinion." 

"  You  must  put  that  question  to  our  reverend  friend," 
Colonel  Winston  replied,  waving  his  hand  towards  the 
clergyman  ;  "he  knows  more  about  heavenly  things  than 
a  miserable  sinner  like  me."  Mr.  Hunter  smiled  and 
held  his  peace. 

"  Silence  gives  consent,"  said  the  Judge  ;  "  it'must  be 
so,  since  the  clergy  maintain  it." 


KEDI3ANK.  41 

"  Are  you  not  getting  too  old  to  talk  nonsense  ?  " 
asked  Miss  Holcombe,  looking  up  at  Judge  Brooks  with 
an  amused  expression.  You  set  a  bad  example  to  us 
who  are  younger." 

"•  Of  course,  I'm  too  old  to  talk  nonsense  if  you  say  so, 
my  dear  ;  but  it  is  all  on  account  of  being  seated  near 
you.  When  I'm  classified  with  the  young,  I'm  young 
too,  and  commit  all  the  follies  of  youth  ;  when  I'm  clas 
sified  with  the  aged,  I'm  a  very  oracle  of  wisdom." 

The  young  lady  made  a  little  motion  of  rising.  "  Well, 
to  save  you  from  further  folly,  perhaps  I  had  better 
vacate  my  seat  in  favor  of  some  one  older." 

"  A  thousand  times  no !  "  he  exclaimed,  laying  his 
hand  upon  her  arm  ;  "  as  if  all  the  wisdom  of  all  the 
sages  could  weigh  in  the  balance  with  one  moment  of 
delicious,  nonsensical  youth !  My  dear,  I've  been  hard 
at  work  all  day — I've  been  a  very  owl  for  wise  looks  and 
wise  words ;  do  allow  me  to  be  as  foolish  as  I  please  to 
night." 

"  Indeed  you  shall ! "  cried  Miss  Hunter  across  the 
table.  "  When  we  return  to  the  drawing-room,  you  shall 
have  a  seat  upon  the  sofa,  and  we  angels  will  hover 
around  you  and  whisper  and  giggle  after  our  usual 
angelic  fashion,  and  you  shall  drink  the  very  dregs  of 
folly,  if  you  wish." 

"  By  proposing  to  all  of  you  at  once  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  If  you  like,"  she  answered,  gayly ;  "  but  being  the 
eldest,  I  shall  take  precedence,  and  be  the  first  to  con 
sider  and  reply  to  your  proposal." 

"  But  you  would  have  to  reject  me,  because  you  are 
already  engaged." 

"  Temporarily  !  "  she  replied  with  a  laugh — "  until  a 
better  fellow  presents  himself.  You  know  perfectly  well 
that  you  are  considered  the  greatest  catch  in  the  city," 


42  HEDKANK. 

"  Gracious  heavens !  is  that  the  way  the  angels  speak 
of  me  !  "  and  he  clasped  his  hands  and  raised  his  eyes  to 
the  ceiling. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Miss  Holcombe,  "  you  know  there 
is  no  danger  unless  you  yourself  take  the  first  step  in 
folly." 

"  My  dear,"  he  replied  with  mock  gravity,  "  with  pit 
falls  everywhere,  I  shall  be  afraid  to  take  any  step  at 
all.  My  only  safety  is  in  standing  still.  To  a  man  of 
my  temperament,  that  is  very  tiresome." 

"Miss  Nettie,"  said  Colonel  Winston,  "I  cannot 
allow  you  and  my  venerable  friend  to  flirt  across  the 
table.  There  must  be  some  sacred  spot  on  this  green 
earth  where  flirting  is  not  permitted,  and  I  hold  out  for 
the  dinner-table." 

"  I  suppose  you  would  reserve  that  sacred  spot  exclu 
sively  for  politics,"  said  Miss  Hunter  with  a  light 
laugh. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Nettie,  you  are  right  as  usual,"  the  Colonel 
answered.  "  There  is  nothing  quite  equal  to  politics 
for  making  a  man  enjoy  the  delights  of  a  good  dinner, 
nor  for  helping  him  to  forget  the  weak  points  of  a  bad 
one.  A  man  gets  so  warmed  up  that  he  could  swallow 
and  digest  cobble-stones." 

"Well,  Colonel,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Allison,  a  large, 
showily-dressed  lady,  "  I  think  that  politics  are  perfectly 
odious.  It  was  politics  that  brought  on  the  war,  and  the 
war  has  ruined  us  all." 

"  Saved  us,  you  mean,"  said  the  Judge  in  his  calm, 
emphatic  manner. 

Judge  Brooks  was  a  broad-minded  man,  and  Avas  known 
to  hold  heretical  views  on  many  subjects,  but  the  pres 
ent  company  were  scarcely  prepared  for  such  an  utter- 


REDBANR.  43 

ance  as  this.  Every  eye  was  turned  upon  him  with 
surprise  and  inquiry. 

"  Yes,"  he  continued  with  a  pleasant  smile,  "  I  mean 
exactly  what  I  have  said — the  war  has  saved  us.  We 
were  in  a  very  bad  way  before  the  war  and  now  I  really 
see  signs  of  improvement." 

"  Par  example  ?  "  said  the  Colonel,  in  an  interrogative 
tone.  "  Explain  yourself,  my  dear  Judge  or  our  good 
friends  will  take  up  the  idea  that  you  are  deranged,  or 
worse  still,  a  dotard." 

"  Well,  things  are  bad  enough  now,"  replied  the 
Judge,  "  but  there  are  signs  of  improvement  all  around 
us.  As  a  nation  we  have  been  aroused  from  our  bed  of 
roses,  and  forced  to  take  part  in  the  struggle  for  exist 
ence.  Our  young  men  and  our  fair  maidens  are  begin 
ning  to  feel  the  dignity  of  labor.  The  discipline  is 
severe,  but  the  result  will  be  fine." 

"  And  a  whole  nation  must  be  ruined  that  a  few  dan 
dies  and  dollies  may  grow  sensible,"  exclaimed  the 
Colonel,  impatiently.  "  Is  that  your  meaning  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly,"  said  the  Judge  with  his  genial  smile 
which  always  seemed  to  extract  the  bitterness  from 
opposition  ;  "  the  ruin  you  speak  of  is  material,  and  every 
day  we  are  moving  on  slowly  towards  recovery.  The 
good  I  speak  of  is  the  moral  good  which  always  comes 
to  a  nation  from  a  life-and-death  struggle  such  as  ours 
has  been." 

"  Moral  good,  indeed  !  "  cried  Major  Allison,  who  was 
growing  somewhat  excited.  "  So  far  as  I  can  see,  there 
is  only  moral  evil  from  it." 

"  Everything  depends  on  our  point  of  view,  Major," 
said  Mr.  Hunter. 

"  Well,  I  confess  mine's  in  a  fog,"  replied  the  Major, 
trying  to  laugh  with  good-humor. 


44  HKDHASK. 

"  Perhaps  the  fog  will  lift  after  a  while,"  said  the 
hostess. 

"  No,  madam,"  he  exclaimed  with  deep  feeling.  "  I'm 
sorry  to  disagree  with  you  on  any  subject,  but  my  fog 
gets  thicker  and  thicker  every  day.  Sometimes,  when 
I  think  of  the  condition  of  our  country,  I'm  actually 
sorry  that  I  was  ever  born." 

"  Oh  !  Major  Allison,  how  can  you  feel  so !  "  ex 
claimed  Jessie  Holcombe,  her  eyes  flashing  with  intense 
emotion.  "  If  there  is  one  thing  for  which  I  feel  thank 
ful,  it  is  to  be  living  at  this  very  time — neither  sooner 
nor  later,  but  right  now." 

"  Miss  Jessie,  you  astonish  me,"  said  the  Major. 
"  What  can  you  mean  ?  How  can  a  lovely  girl  like  war 
and  bloodshed  and  anarchy  ?  " 

•  "  I  do  not  like  bloodshed  and  anarchy,"  she  replied, 
still  aglow  with  fine  feeling,  "  but  I  do  admire  heroism, 
both  active  and  passive.  I  am  glad  to  be  in  the  world 
at  a  time  when  noble  passions  are  aroused,  and  great 
deeds  are  done." 

"  Now,  Jessie  has  mounted  Pegasus,"  whispered  Miss 
Hunter  to  Dr.  Crump  who  was  seated  beside  her. 

The  gentleman  adjusted  his  eyeglasses,  and  turned 
them  on  Jessie  for  a  moment,  then  in  a  low  tone  he  re 
plied,  "•  It  must  be  confessed  she  looks  remarkably  well 
on  horseback." 

"  Miss  Holcombe  is  right,"  said  Judge  Brooks  ;  "•  in 
times  of  peace,  a  nation  has  no  history.  We  have  been 
making  a  chapter  of  history." 

"  Say  rather  a  folio  volume  !  "  exclaimed  the  clergy 
man. 

"  If  our  enemies  write  it,  I'm  afraid  we  shall  not  fig 
ure  in  it  as  heroes,  but  as  very  sorry  knaves,"  said  Harry 
Holcombe,  who  up  to  this  point  had  been  too  much 


REDBAXK.  45 

occupied  with  his  fair  neighbor,  Miss  Alice  Brooks,  to 
pay  much  attention  to  the  general  conversation. 

"  We  must  leave  that  for  posterity  to  settle,"  replied 
Mr.  Hunter.  "  A  modern  historian  has  said  that  there 
never  was  a  dispute  between  two  parties,  in  which  all 
the  right  was  on  one  side  and  all  the  wrong  on  the  other." 

"  Right  or  Avrong,  we  made  a  gallant  fight,  and  some 
good  will  come  out  of  it,"  remarked  Harry  Holcombe. 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  Judge  ;  "  heroic  effort  is 
never  wasted.  Wherever  there  has  been  the  spirit  of 
manly  struggle  and  sacrifice,  there  has  been  some  good 
from  it.  Patriotism,  courage,  self-devotion  are  worth 
more  to  a  nation  than  gold  or  silver,  or  factories,  or  ships, 
or  anything  else.  Our  Southern  land  has  been  plowed 
up  from  end  to  end,  and  planted  with  a  new  seed  for  a 
new  harvest — finer  far  than  cotton,  Colonel." 

As  he  spoke  these  words,  Jessie  Holcombe  looked  up 
at  him  with  delighted  approval  in  her  dark  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Hunter  in  a  quiet,  impressive  tone, 
"  I  am  beginning  to  see  that  the  war  has  done  a  great 
work  for  the  South.  I  believe  the  future  will  prove  that 
defeat  was  better  for  us  than  victory  would  have  been." 

"  He  raves  !  "  cried  the  Colonel ;  "  put  blisters  behind 
his  ears." 

There  was  general  laughter  at  this  remark,  and  the 
discussion  ended.  Soon  the  hostess  arose  from  the  table ; 
all  followed  her  example,  and  passed  with  her  into  the 
drawing-rooms.  There  they  again  scattered  into  groups, 
talking  and  laughing  with  charming  abandon. 

The  young  girls  gathered  around  the  Judge.  "  We 
are  going  to  execute  our  threat,"  said  Miss  Hunter. 
"  You  must  come  with  us." 

He  looked  down  upon  them  with  an  expression  of 
great  amusement  in  his  eyes,  saying,  "I  have  no  thought 


46  REDEANK. 

of  resistance.     What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?" 

"  We  have  not  yet  decided,"  was  the  answer,  "  "but 
you  can  surely  trust  yourself  with  the  angels." 

As  they  were  moving  off  with  him,  he  turned  and  saw 
that  Jessie  was  not  with  them ;  she  was  standing  near 
the  door,  talking  with  several  gentlemen. 

"  Miss  Holcombe,"  he  cried,  "  do  you  not  intend  to 
join  us  ?  "  The  young  lady  thus  addressed,  smiled  and 
shook  her  head. 

"  Leave  Jessie  alone,"  said  Miss  Nettie  Hunter ;  "  the 
division  will  be  long  enough  without  her.  She  thinks  her 
share  would  be  too  small  to  be  worth  accepting." 

"  But  I  do  not  like  a  single  one  of  the  divine  creatures 
to  turn  her  back  upon  me,"  replied  the  Judge.  He 
looked  again  at  Jessie,  but  she  was  unmoved  by  the  mute 
entreaty  of  his  face,  and  went  on  with  her  conversation. 
It  was  easy  to  see  that  her  presence  would  have  made 
his  captivity  sweet. 

"  Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?"  he  again 
asked  helplessly,  as  they  marched  him  into  the  back- 
parlor. 

"  We  will  allow  you,  perhaps,  to  decide  your  own  fate," 
answered  Miss  Bessie  Allison. 

"  That  would  not  be  at  all  wise,"  he  said. 

"  Why  ?  "  demanded  Emma  Allison,  who  was  very 
young  and  very  pretty. 

"  If  a  prisoner  is  allowed  to  decide  his  own  fate,  he 
invariably  pleads  for  release." 

"  You  need  not  think  for  a  moment  that  we  will  listen 
to  any  such  pleas  as  that,"  said  Miss  Clara  Stevens. 

';  No,  indeed  !  "  exclaimed  Nettie  Hunter.  "  You 
are  an  exceedingly  wise  old  bird,  but  at  last  you  have 
been  caught  with  chaff,  and^now  you  need  not  imagine 
that  you  can  get  away." 


REDBANK.  47 

He  joined  their  laughter,  saying,  "  I'm  curious  to  see 
what  you  are  going  to  do  with  the  old  bird,  now  he  is 
caught." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Miss  Nettie,  with  a  reflective  turn 
of  her  pretty  head ;  "  he  has  so  often  laughed  at  our 
snares  and  broken  our  nets,  that  he  deserves  a  dreadful 
fate,  but  we  will  not  be  too  severe.  Your  sentence  is 
to  dance  with  each  one  of  us  in  an  endless  succession." 

"  Mercy  !  Mercy  !  "  cried  the  Judge  ;  "  I  do  not  know 
how  to  dance." 

"  Then  we  will  teach  you." 

"  But  I  have  no  capacity  for  learning,"  he  urged. 

"  We  will  lend  you  a  little  of  ours,"  they  replied  in 
chorus. 

"  But  it  is  too  soon  after  dinner  ;  such  exercise  would 
be  bad  for  my  health." 

"  You  are  a  clever  pleader,"  said  Miss  Nettie ;  "  but 
your  sophistries  are  unavailing ;  you  shall  not  be  released 
this  time.  If  you  cannot  dance,  you  shall  play  a  game 
of  cards  with  us." 

"  But  I  detest  cards  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Surely  not,  with  such  angelic  partners,"  said  Miss 
Bessie  Allison. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  even  with  such  angelic  part 
ners.  To  play  cards  will  demand  some  concentration  of 
thought.  How  can  I  concentrate  myself  upon  anything 
with  so  many  fair  women  around  me  ?  I  shall  be  as 
distracted  as  a  bee  in  a  flower-garden." 

"  Then  we'll  win  the  game  and  you'll  pay  the  stakes," 
said  Miss  Bessie. 

"  And  what  are  you  going  to  stake  ?  "  he  asked  ;  "  my 
poor  worthless  life  ?  " 

"  By  no  means,"  was  the  reply.  "  We  will  play  for 
candy — the  very  best  that  can  be  bought  in  the  city."",- 


48 

"  Very  well,"  he  answered.    "  I'll  agree  to  it." 

The  card-table  was  soon  brought  out  and  the  game 
went  on  merrily.  Whether  by  luck  or  by  design,  the 
Judge  lost  all  the  time,  and  the  girls  scolded  him  for 
his  bad  playing,  and  congratulated  themselves  on  the 
heaps  of  bonbons  they  were  winning.  Finally,  when  the 
gentleman  declared  himself  a  miserable  bankrupt  on 
the  verge  of  suicide,  the  merry  creatures  allowed  him  to 
stop.  Then  they  called  on  Miss  Holcombe  for  some 
music,  and  insisted  that  he  should  take  a  turn  in  the 
waltz  with  each  one  of  them.  He  was  too  polite  and 
good-natured  to  rebel,  and  though  his  movements  were 
so  ungraceful  that  they  called  him  a  dancing  bear,  he 
performed  his  part  to  the  end.  At  length,  Miss  Hunter 
released  him  from  his  bondage,  with  the  words,  "Now, 
I  hope,  I  have  impressed  upon  you  the  danger  to  which 
you  expose  yourself  when  you  jest  with  our  good  names, 
and  mockingly  call  us  angels." 

He  bowed  gracefully,  and  replied,  "Rest  assured  I 
shall  never  offend  again.  I  am  thoroughly  convinced 
of  my  error,  and  am  deeply  repentant." 

Eveiy  one  laughed,  even  the  young  ladies  against 
whom  the  remark  was  aimed.  "Judge  Brooks,  you 
have  a  tongue  which  no  woman  can  ever  hope  to  tie," 
exclaimed  Miss  Hunter.  "  It  is  the  only  thing  in  the 
world  that  I'm  really  afraid  of." 

"  Well,  my  dear,"  said  her  father,  who  was  near  enough 
to  hear  the  remark,  "  I'm  sincerely  glad  that  there  is 
one  thing  of  which  you  have  a  little  wholesome  awe.  It 
makes  one  feel  that  you  are  not  quite  beyond  hope." 

When  the  Judge  was  released,  Miss  Holcombe,  was  still 
at  the  piano.  "  I  am  quite  exhausted,"  he  said  in  alow 
tone ;  "  do  play  something  slow,  and  sweet,  and  soothing 
to  rest  me." 


REDKANK.  49 

,  Jessie  smiled,  and  began  "  The  Whispering  Wind," 
but  Nettie  Hunter  came  up  immediately  with  the 
exclamation,  "  Do  stop  that,  Jessie,  and  give  us  some 
thing  lively.  You  know  I  don't  like  anything  but 
dance  music.  That  piece  you  are  playing  now  is 
worse  than  a  schoolgirl's  scales." 

"  You  should  not  speak  so  irreverently  of  what  you 
do  not  understand,"  said  the  Judge. 

"I  know  well  enough  that  I  do  not  understand 
it,"  she  answered,  gayly,  "  but  it's  the  music  that's  to 
blame,  not  myself — I'm  all  right."  This  speech  and  the 
bewitching  little  air  with  which  it  was  spoken,  was 
received  with  peals  of  laughter ;  but  the  imperious 
creature  could  not  have  her  way  now.  Judge  Brooks 
told  her  that  Miss  Holcombe  was  playing  for  him,  and 
he  could  not  allow  any  one  to  interfere  with  her  selec 
tion. 

"  When  this  is  finished,  you  shall  have  something 
gay,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  I  feel  in  a  very  amiable  mood  to 
night,  and  will  strive  to  suit  the  taste  of  each  one  of 
my  friends  by  turn." 

Perhaps  she  enjoyed  her  position  at  the  piano,  because 
it  gave  her  an  occasional  view  of  a  lady  and  gentleman 
who  were  slowly  promenading  up  and  down  the  long 
hall.  From  the  expression  of  the  lady's  face,  Jessie 
knew  that  her  brother  was  making  good  use  of  his 
opportunities. 

"  Well,  when  you  are  ready,  please  give  us  a  waltz," 
replied  Nettie,  "  for  we  are  going  to  dance  again.  Now, 
we  have  got  rid  of  the  bear,  we  are  going  to  have  some 
real  fun,"  and  she  looked  at  the  Judge  with  a  mocking 
little  gesture.  He  smiled,  but  made  no  response.  "Mrs- 
Winston,"  she  cried,  "  may  we  dance  in  the  hall  ?  " 

"  Of  course  you  may,"  the  lady  answered.  "  Call 

4 


5U  UEDBANK. 

Oliver  to  remove  anything  that  is  in  the  way." 
"  A  thousand  thanks,"  she  said,  and  flitted  into  the 
next  room.  The  dancing  went  on  with  slight  pauses  until 
almost  midnight.  Judge  Brooks  sat  beside  Miss  Hoi- 
combe,  and  kept  up  a  pleasant  conversation  with  her 
while  she  played  the  lively  music,  whispering  pretty 
compliments  about  her  hands  and  arms,  and  comment 
ing  upon  the  changing  expression  of  the  shadow  she 
cast  upon  the  wall.  Several  persons  tried  to  tempt  him 
away  from  his  post,  but  his  reply  was  always  the  same, 
"  Miss  Holcombe  is  making  a  martyr  of  herself,  playing 
the  whole  evening  for  our  entertainment,  and  I  feel  as 
if  it  were  my  duty  to  stand  at  her,  elbow  and  encourage 
her."  Every  now  and  then  he  got  a  smile  from  the 
beautiful  pianist  which  would  have  repaid  any  man  for 
a  much  more  disagreeable  task. 

It  is  a  law  in  this  world  that  everything  shall  pass 
away,  and  so  this  delightful  evening  had  an  end. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MARCH  had  now  come,  and  winter  seemed  ready  and 
willing  to  yield  his  throne  to  spring.  It  had  been  rain 
ing  all  day — a  warm  rain  that  had  descended  gently  as 
if  afraid  of  hurting  the  tender  young  things  that  were 
beginning  to  peep  up  out  of  the  ground.  When  even 
ing  came,  and  the  curtains  were  drawn,  there  was  some 
thing  restful  in  the  monotonous  patter  outside. 

Colonel  Winston  and  his  wife  were  alone  in  the  library. 
A  large  fire  was  burning  on  the  hearth  and  it  gave  a 
cheerful  air  to  a  room  otherwise  shabby,  solemn,  and 
sombre.  The  lady  and  gentleman  were  seated  on  oppo 
site  sides  of  a  center  table,  on  which  stood  a  large 
lamp  with  a  soft  shade  over  it.  The  table  was  loaded 
with  books  and  newspapers,  but  neither  of  them  seemed 
inclined  to  read ;  they  sat  silently  gazing  into  the  fire, 
absorbed  in  thought.  He  was  lying  back  in  an  easy- 
chair  with  his  feet  upon  a  hassock,  smoking  the  end  of  a 
cigar.  When  at  length  it  became  so  short  as  to  endan 
ger  his  fingers,  he  tossed  it  into  the  fire,  arose  from  his 
seat,  and  taking  a  match  from  the  mantel,  lighted  another. 
His  heavy  black  brows,  together  with  several  sharp 
vertical  wrinkles  between  the  eyes,  gave  him  a  very  dis 
agreeable  look.  He  was  evidently  in  a  bad  humor. 
Something  was  radically  wrong  about  him — whether  it 
was  his  liver,  that  potent  source  of  ill-temper,  or  not 
remains  to  be  seen. 

Mrs.Winston  was  as  calm  and  colorless  as  usual.     She 

was  far  from  being  beautiful,  but  there  was  something 

51 


52  REDBANK. 

striking  about  her  face  from  its  breadth  of  brow  and  the 
expression  of  firmness  about  the  mouth.  Her  hair  was 
still  sunny  brown  without  a  strand  of  silver  ;  it  waved 
back  from  the  forehead  and  was  knotted  rather  too  low 
for  the  fashion  of  those  days.  She  was  smaller  than 
her  sister,  but  there  was  a  strong  family  resemblance 
between  them.  It  was  more  in  manner  than  in  face  ; 
there  was  about  them  both  a  certain  quiet  dignity  which 
repelled  familiarity  and  commanded  respect.  To-night 
she  had  left  the  nursery,  where  she  usually  spent  her 
evenings  in  reading,  and  had  descended  to  the  library, 
a  room  which  she  did  not  often  invade  at  this  hour. 
That  she  had  a  purpose  in  view  was  evident  to  her  hus 
band,  but  he  seemed  determined  not  to  give  her  any  as 
sistance  in  making  known  her  wishes,  whatever  they 
were.  They  were  both  so  silent  that  one  might  have 
fancied  some  spell  had  been  laid  upon  them. 

Mrs.  Winston  always  found  it  hard  to  speak  with  her 
husband  on  matters  of  business,  because  he  repelled 
her  curiosity  and  ignored  her  advice.  Like  many  women 
she  had  been  content  for  a  long  time  to  remain  in 
profound  ignorance,  believing  that  all  was  well ;  but  of 
late  she  had  begun  to  have  some  suspicion  that  the  Col 
onel's  affairs  were  getting  into  a  tangle,  and  she  realized 
her  right  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  She  knew  that  he 
had  managed  badly  since  the  war,  but  she  could  not 
guess  the  extent  of  his  difficulties. 

"  Francis,"  she  said,  as  he  threw  away  the  end  of  his 
second  cigar,  "  I  do  wish  you  would  not  smoke  so  much. 
I  think  it  makes  you  very  nervous." 

"That's  all  you  know  about  it,"  he  answered,  sharply ; 
"I  don't  smoke  half-a-dozen  cigars  during  the  day.  I 
cannot  afford  to  smoke  any  more,  even  if  I  wanted  to." 

u  Well,  then,  what  is  the  matter  with  you,  of  late  ? 


53 

t)o  you  know  you  are  getting  almost  unbearable  in 
your  family  ?  You  slam  the  doors  and  kick  the  dogs,  and 
scold  the  servants.  It  seems  to  be  growing  worse  every 
day.  Only  this  morning,  Oliver  told  me  that  he  did 
not  think  he  could  stand  it  much  longer." 

"  Then  let  him  clear  out,  immediately,"  exclaimed  the 
Colonel,  fiercely. 

"  But  he  is  invaluable  to  me — I  cannot  spare  him. 
He  is  the  best  servant  I  have  ever  had  in  my  life." 

"  He  used  to  be,  but,  like  all  the  rest  of  them,  he  has 
been  utterly  ruined  by  freedom." 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you;  he  has  some  self-respect,  and 
objects  to  being  treated  like  a  boy.  If  he  left  us,  I  am 
sure  we  could  never  supply  his  place." 

"  I  wish  to  heaven  the  whole  kit  and  cargo  of  them 
would  leave  !  They  are  a  dead  weight  upon  the  South." 

"  You  don't  know  what  you  are  saying,  Francis  ;  your 
words  are  as  unreasonable  as  your  conduct.  We  could 
never  get  along  without  them." 

"  I  say  we  could  !  "  he  exclaimed  in  loud,  impatient 
tones.  "  I'd  like  to  pitch  every  one  of  them  into  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  and  all  the  good-for-nothing  white  folks 
too.  The  South  needs  workers  now  more  than  ever  be 
fore — not  idle,  lounging,  drinking,  sporting  gentlemen." 

"  I  know  you  refer  to  Harry,"  she  replied,  very  gently. 
"  I  can  see  that  he  annoys  you  by  his  carelessness,  but 
you  ought  to  be  able  to  make  excuses  for  him  ;  he  had 
very  bad  influences  thrown  around  him  during  his 
early  youth.  He  has  a  good  heart,  and  I  hope  some 
day  he  will  prove  himself  a  man.  Certainly  he  has 
been  behaving  very  well  of  late." 

"  Yes,  but  how  much  longer  will  it  last  ?  You  can 
never  be  sure  of  him  ;  by  the  time  you  begin  to  think 
him  a  good  fellow,  he  is  off  on  another  spree." 


54  REDBANK. 

"  Well,  I  do  not  think  you  are  Very  wise  in  scolding 
him  so  much  as  you  do.  You  can  never  hope  to  influence 
him,  in  that  way." 

"  Hope  to  influence  him ! "  exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  I 
would  as  soon  hope  to  influence  the  moon  and  stars. 
He  seems  a  sorry  case  to  me.  If  he  only  manages  not  to 
disgrace  the  family,  I  shall  he  thankful." 

"  You  are  not  quite  just  to  Harry,"  said  Mrs.  Winston. 
"  I  believe  if  he  had  some  congenial  occupation,  he  would 
do  as  well  as  most  of  men." 

"  Then  why  don't  he  find  one  ?  He  is  not  lacking  in 
brains." 

"  You  forget  that  he  has  never  been  trained  to  do  any 
thing,  and  is  now  completely  at  a  loss.  If  you  Avere 
without  property,  I  daresay  you  would  find  it  hard  to 
know  what  to  do  for  a  living.  I  wish  that  you  were 
generous  enough  to  help  Harry  in  the  right  way." 

This  remark  evoked  no  answer,  so  she  continued: 
"  Francis,  I  cannot  believe  that  Harry's  carelessness  would 
annoy  you  so,  if  there  was  not  something  else  at  the 
bottom  of  it.  I  am  sure  you  are  in  want  of  money." 

"  Then  if  you  are  so  sure,  why  do  you  bother  to  ask  ?  " 
he  said,  impatiently. 

"  Because  I  may  be  able  to  help  you,  if  you  will  really 
tell  me  the  whole  truth  about  your  affairs." 

He  thought  in  a  moment  about  the  small  fortune 
settled  upon  her  at  marriage,  and  which,  being  securely 
invested,  had  not  suffered  from  the  war.  This  made 
him  ready  to  confess  his  difficulties.  But  the  proud 
man  could  not  sit  still  while  the  tale  was  told — lie  arose 
from  his  seat  and  began  to  pace  the  floor.  "  Well, 
then,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  know  how  under  the  sun  I'm 
going  to  run  this  plantation  another  year.  Cotton  is  so 
low  that  it  is  ruinous  to  raise  it  with  free  labor.  I  am 


K>  65 

at  my  wits'  end,  and  feel  like  throwing  up  the  whole 
thing." 

"  Sell  part  of  the  plantation,"  she  said.  "  It  is  alto 
gether  too  large  for  you  to  manage  alone,  and  you  can 
not  find  an  overseer  to  suit  you.  No  reasonable  man 
needs  five  thousand  acres  of  land.  I  am  sure  you  would 
make  more  money,  if  you  did  not  plant  on  such  an 
extensive  scale." 

"  You  need  not  give  me  any  such  advice,"  he  replied. 
"  I  shall  never  sell  a  single  acre  of  this  plantation.  I  will 
not  part  with  my  birthright.  I  will  not  become  a  miser 
able  little  farmer,  holding  a  garden  patch  for  a  living." 

"  Then  borrow  money  from  your  factor,"  she  sug 
gested. 

It  angered  him  to  see  that  she  had  no  idea  of  placing 
her  own  small  fortune  in  his  hands.  His  voice  was  loud 
and  sharp  as  he  said,  "  That's  all  you  know  about  busi 
ness  affairs.  I  should  think  you  would  have  better 
sense  than  to  give  me  that  advice.  I  already  owe  him 
more  than  I  shall  ever  be  able  to  pay.  Besides,  he 
is  a  rascally  fellow.  I  would  like  to  give  him  a  kick 
this  very  minute.  He  has  grown  rich  on  his  loans.  He 
is  not  much  better  than  a  common  swindler."  The 
Colonel  grabbed  another  cigar  from  the  mantelpiece, 
lighted  it,  and  threw  himself  into  an  easy-chair. 

It  was  some  time  before  she  suggested  anything  else, 
but  at  length  she  said,  "  Well,  why  don't  you  borrow 
from  Judge  Brooks  ?  He  has  plenty  of  money,  and 
would  be  willing  to  lend  you  some  if  he  knew  you 
needed  it.  He  has  the  kindest  and  most  generous  soul 
of  any  man  I  ever  met." 

"  Such  an  idea  is  utterly  humiliating  to  me,"  replied 
the  Colonel.  "  I  do  not  think  that  I  could  possibly  bend 
myself  so  low.  Judge  Brooks  and  I  have  always  been 


56  EEDBANK. 

friends.  No  word  or  thought  of  money  has  ever  come 
between  us.  I  cannot  bear  to  have  our  friendship 
poisoned  by  business  relations.  Let  me  keep  the  few 
friends  I  have,  as  long  as  I  live." 

Eleanor  Winston  was  proud  herself,  and  she  could 
understand  the  feelings  of  her  husband.  In  money 
matters  it  is  better  to  apply  to  strangers  than  to  friends. 
It  is  a  strong  tie  that  can  stand  that  strain.  The  situa 
tion  was  indeed  perplexing,  and  she  gazed  in  vain  into 
the  fire  for  some  kindly  inspiration.  Suddenly  she  looked 
up  and  said,  "  Francis,  why  don't  you  write  to  Philip,  and 
frankly  tell  him  about  your  difficulties  ?  He  is  rich  now." 

The  Colonel  smoked  on  in  silence  as  if  he  had  not 
heard  the  words  of  his  wife  ;  he  tapped  the  ashes  from 
the  end  of  his  cigar  into  the  bronze  dish  which  was  meant 
to  receive  them  ;  he  stroked  his  beard  again  and  again ; 
he  ran  his  hand  through  his  scanty  hair.  Perhaps,  he 
was  ruminating  on  this  new  idea  with  the  intention  of 
accepting  it ;  perhaps,  it  was  too  odious  for  him  to  find 
any  expression  for  his  feelings.  Finally  he  said  with 
an  effort,  "  I  have  thought  of  that  myself  more  than  once, 
but  it  would  be  awfully  hard  for  me  to  beg  from  Philip. 
I  don't  exactly  know  why  I  should  feel  so,  for  I  have 
done  enough  for  him  in  the  past  to  have  some  claim  upon 
him  now ;  but  the  truth  is,  I  can  never  think  of  him  as 
rich  and  prosperous — he  used  to  be  such  a  spendthrift." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  "  but  the  war  changed 
him.  He  was  different  when  he  came  out  of  it.  Do 
write  to  him  immediately  and  tell  him  all  about  your 
difficulties.  As  you  say,  you  have  done  enough  for  him 
in  the  past ;  he  ought  to  be  willing  to  make  some  return 
now  that  fortune's  wheel  has  carried  him  to  the  top." 

Mr.  Philip  Winston  was  a  brother  of  the  Colonel.  lie 
was  much  younger,  being  the  son  of  a  second  wife.  In 


REDBANK.  67 

his  youth  he  had  been  very  wild  and  worthless.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  went  west,  settling  in  one  of  those 
large  cities  on  the  Northern  Lakes.  Here  he  soon  found 
scope  for  his  energy  and  talents,  both  of  which  he  had 
hitherto  recklessly  squandered.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
years,  he  made  a  large  fortune.  He  was  unmarried, 
and  had  no  nearer  relative  on  earth  than  the  Colonel. 
Occasionally,  the  brothers  had  exchanged  letters  which 
were  always  frank  and  affectionate.  The  younger  spoke 
freely  to  the  elder  of  his  prosperous  condition  ;  he  even 
boasted  of  the  brilliant  social  position  that  he  had  earned 
for  himself.  The  thought  of  Philip's  success  was  far 
from  agreeable  to  the  Colonel,  when  he  remembered  his 
own  losses.  He  was  too  proud  and  sensitive  not  to  feel 
the  humiliation  of  applying  for  help  to  one  whom  he 
had  been  accustomed  to  regard  as  an  inferior.  Yet  as 
he  revolved  the  idea  in  his  mind,  to-night,  the  expression 
of  his  face  slowly  changed.  The  wrinkles  on  his  brow 
were  smoothed  out,  and  he  began  to  talk  about  his  boy 
hood,  and  the  many  scrapes  out  of  which  he  had  assisted 
his  brother.  It  did  him  good  to  go  back  and  review  the 
gay  scenes  of  his  youth. 

It  was  late— -the  clock  was  striking  eleven — before 
Mrs.  Winston  left  her  husband,  and  ascended  the  stairs  to 
her  own  room. 

After  she  was  gone,  he  seated  himself  at  his  desk, 
drew  a  sheet  of  paper  in  front  of  him,  took  up  a  pen,  and 
dipped  it  in  the  ink-bottle.  Then  he  paused  a  moment. 
Soon  he  flung  the  pen  aside,  and  springing  up,  began  to 
walk  the  floor. 

"  Confound  it !  ''  he  exclaimed,  "  to  be  reduced  to  this 
beggarly  strait !  I  don't  believe  I  can  do  it  after  all. 
I  wish  to  goodness  there  was  some  other  way.  The 
truth  is,  I  don't  know  how  to  work,  and  I  don't  know 


58 

how  to  beg."  After  pacing  back  and  forward  for  a  full 
half-hour,  he  again  sat  down  at  his  desk,  and  dashed  off 
a  hurried  letter.  Then  he  sealed  and  addressed  it.  The 
next  morning  it  was  sent. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  THERE  is  no  use  in  trying  to  sew  or  read  either," 
said  Jessie,  folding  the  tiny  garment  on  which  she  had 
been  at  work,  and  laying  it  in  her  dainty  work-basket ; 
then  she  transferred  a  book  which  had  been  lying  upon 
her  lap,  to  a  convenient  chair,  arose  from  her  seat,  and 
began  to  pace  slowly  up  and  down  the  piazza.  Every 
now  and  then  she  drew  a  long  breath  of  delight.  The 
afternoon  was  mild  and  spring-like,  and  she  felt  the 
charm  of  earth  and  sky.  "  The  day  is  too  beautiful  for 
anything  but  idle  enjoyment,"'  she  continued,  speaking 
aloud  to  herself,  as  she  moved  hither  and  thither  ;  "  they 
talk  about  the  languor  that  comes  with  spring  weather 
— I  have  never  experienced  it ;  on  the  contrary,  the  spring 
always  makes  me  restless — I  feel  just  as  the  birds  of 
passage  must  feel, — a  wild  longing  to  soar  away  some 
where  to  other  lands.  The  current  of  life  in  my  veins 
seems  swifter  and  stronger,  impelling  me  to  greater 
activity.  Oh !  for  a  fuller  and  richer  existence  than 
this  !  " — and  she  panted  as  if  for  more  air. 

Soon  she  descended  the  steps  of  the  piazza,  and  went 
out  into  the  yard,  looking  carefully  at  the  trees  and 
shrubs  for  signs  of  reviving  life,  noting  with  a  throb  of 
pleasure  the  up-springing  crocuses  and  daffodils,  and  the 
swelling  buds  upon  the  rose-bushes.  She  stopped  and 
gathered  a  handful  of  violets,  pressed  them  to  her  lips, 
and  then  fastened  them  on  her  bosom.  Yes,  the  great 


60 

heart  of  Nature  had  begun  to  throb  anew — the  sap  was 
once  more  ascending  to  form  the  leaves  and  flowers,  and 
her  young  soul  felt  a  strange  thrill  of  delight,  as  she 
thought  of  the  beautiful  possibilities  of  the  future. 
Suddenly  she  heard  the  tramp  of  horses  in  the  distance, 
and  saw  a  phaeton  coming  up  the  avenue.  It  was  drawn 
by  dark  gray  horses — she  knew  them  well.  The  Judge 
was  coming  for  a  call  upon  his  friend,  the  Colonel. 
Jessie  thought  immediately  of  some  urgent  business  with 
her  brother-in-law.  She  stood  and  watched  the  approach 
of  the  carriage  with  the  interest  which  is  usually  given 
to  a  visitor  in  the  country.  When  the  horses  stopped, 
arid  the  Judge  alighted,  she  went  forward  and  gave  him 
a  cordial  greeting.  There  was  something  joyous  in  her 
light  movements,  and  a  flush  of  pleasure  was  on  her  face. 
She  conducted  her  guest  into  the  house,  leading  the  way 
into  the  library,  which  looked  more  quiet,  dusky,  and 
glum  than  usual  after  the  bright  warm  sunshine  out 
side.  Only  the  friends  of  the  Colonel  were  received  in 
this  room ;  believing,  as  she  did,  that  the  call  was  for  him, 
she  had  dared  to  enter  his  sanctum.  As  soon  as  her 
companion  was  seated,  and  she  had  opened  a  window  to 
admit  a  little  more  light  and  air,  she  turned  to  him  and 
said,  "  Now  do  excuse  me,  and  I  will  go  and  see  if  I 
can  find  the  Colonel." 

"Pray  don't  trouble  yourself,"  replied  the  visitor. 
"  I  know  he  is  not  at  home  ;  I  met  him  on  the  road  sev 
eral  miles  from  here,  and  had  a  little  chat  -with  him. 
My  call  to-day  is  not  on  the  Colonel,  nor  on  his  wife. 
I  have  come  on  purpose  to  see  you,  and  am  very  happy 
to  find  you  alone.  I  scarcely  expected  such  good  for 
tune." 

"  What  an   honor !  "   she   exclaimed.    "  I   am   over- 


KEDEANK.  61 

whelmed !  You  must  have  something  very  important 
to  say  to  me." 

He  smiled  upon  her  in  his  usual  gracious  way,  and 
rising  from  the  seat  he  had  taken,  he  led  her  to  a  sofa 
where  they  sat  down  side  by  side. 

"•  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  you  are  right ;  I  have  some 
thing  very  important  to  say  to  you — quite  awful  in 
fact."  She  was  too  familiar  with  his  playful  manner  to 
be  alarmed  by  such  an  assertion.  "  But  first  let  us  talk 
a  little  about  the  weather.  What  a  charming  day  it  is  ! 
One  would  think  that  a  May  day  had  gotten  lost  and 
turned  up  here  in  March.  The  spring  makes  me  feel 
quite  young  again.  I  really  could  not  endure  the  city. 
I  had  to  come  out  into  the  open  country,  where  I  could 
get  the  smell  of  the  fresh  earth  and  the  odor  of  bon 
fires.  My  drive  of  ten  miles  has  been  one  long  draught 
of  delicious  enjoyment." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl,  quickly,  "  I  understand  it 
exactly.  All  day  I  have  so  longed  for  a  ride  on  horse 
back,  but  Eleanor  is  not  willing  for  me  to  go  alone,  and 
Harry  went  off  hunting  early  this  morning,  and  has  not 
yet  returned." 

"  How  would  you  like  a  drive  in  the  carriage  with 
me  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Ever  so  much ! "  she  answered  with  a  gasp  of 
delight.  "  Are  you  really  in  earnest  ?  How  good  you 
are  !  " 

"  Yes,  to  myself,"  he  said  with  a  tender  smile.  "  But, 
first,  let  me  dispatch  my  business — we  will  ride  after 
wards.  I  could  not  talk  and  attend  to  the  horses,  too, 
and  my  man,  Jim,  would  be  de  trop" 

"  Well,  do  hurry,"  she  exclaimed,  impatiently. 
"  What  can  it  be  ?  Have  you  a  message  from  Alice  ? 
Does  she  want  me  to  come  and  stay  with  her?" 


62  REDBANK. 

"No,  not  that.  I  have  not  seen  Alice  for  several 
weeks.  Guess  again." 

"  I  cannot  guess — please  be  good  and  tell  me  at  once, 
for  I  long  to  be  out  of  this  solemn  place.  I  think  the 
Colonel  leaves  at  least  half  of  himself  in  this  room  even 
when  lie  goes  out  of  it.  Don't  you  feel  his  personality 
a  little?" 

"Yes,  it  is  rather  stuffy;  perhaps,  if  the  windows 
were  all  opened,  the  air  would  be  better." 

"  Now,  you  are  laughing  at  me  as  you  always  do.  I 
cannot  say  that  I  am  enjoying  your  call  very  much. 
You  are  more  provoking  than  usual." 

"  Am  I  ?  That's  a  great  pity,  for  I  was  trying  to  be 
particularly  agreeable." 

"  Then  for  once  you  are  a  hopeless  failure." 

'•  Don't  say  that  please,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  If  you  wish  me  to  retract  my  words,  you  must  tell 
me  immediately  what  important  business  you  have  with 
me.  Has  there  been  a  dreadful  failure  ?  and  is  my  poor 
little  fortune  lost  ?  " 

"  Not  that  either,"  he  said,  very  solemnly,  "  guess 
again." 

"  No,  I  will  not  make  another  single  effort.  If  you 
do  not  hurry  and  tell  me,  I  shall  run  off,  put  on  my 
hat,  and  get  Jim  to  take  me  to  ride.  How  beautiful 
those  gray  horses  are  !  "  and  she  glanced  longingly  out 
of  the  window,  and  heaved  a  little  sigh. 

"  No,  you  cannot  escape  ;  for  the  present  you  are  my 
prisoner — I  am  between  you  and  the  door,  and  could 
easily  arrest  you." 

"  Well,  I  am  at  least  sure  that  you  are  the  bearer  of 
some  message  from  somebody.  Perhaps  Nettie  Hunter 
is  going  to  give  a  party?  Is  that  it?"  she  asked, 
eagerly. 


EEDBANK.  63 

"  No  ;  your  wits  are  dull  to-day." 

"  They  ahvays  are." 

"  I  deny  that,"  he  said  with  a  grave  smile.  Then 
there  was  silence  for  a  few  moments,  while  she  looked 
out  of  the  window  in  a  composed  way,  as  if  quite  deter 
mined  to  await  his  pleasure.  Soon  he  moved  a  little 
closer  to  her  and  spoke.  "  Jessie,"  his  levity  was  all 
gone  now  ;  there  was  something  solemn  and  tender  in  his 
manner  ;  "  I  do  not  know  how  to  say  it  to  you  without 
making  myself  very  ridiculous,  perhaps  ;  but  the  truth  is, 
I  like  you  very  much.  Is  it  possible  you  have  never 
guessed  my  secret  ? "  She  had  a  dim  perception  of 
what  he  meant,  and  her  face  became  very  white  and 
cold.  She  did  not  answer  and  the  gentleman  contin 
ued,  "  Don't  let  me  frighten  you,  Jessie  ;  I  know  you 
consider  me  a  very  old  man — quite  old  enough  to  die, 
and  you  have  treated  me  always  with  a  charming  inno 
cent,  confiding  sweetness  which  would  be  becoming  in 
a  great,  great  grand-daughter ;  but,  in  your  presence,  I 
often  find  my  old  heart  beating  in  a  very  youthful  way. 
My  darling,  I  want  you  to  come  to  my  home,  and  live 
with  me  always."  She  was  trembling  violently,  and 
her  eyes  had  a  terrified  look  as  she  raised  them  to  his. 
She  could  not  speak — the  words  died  on  her  lips.  She 
had  often  heard  the  girls  jest  about  the  Judge,  and  call 
him  a  great  catch,  but  their  chatter  had  made  no  im 
pression  upon  her.  She  knew  that  he  was  a  widower 
and  very  rich,  living  in  a  handsome  home  in  the  city 
over  which  no  mistress  presided.  His  duties  as  guardian 
of  his  niece  often  brought  him  to  a  neighboring  planta 
tion,  owned  by  tne  widow  of  his  brother.  His  fondness 
for  this  niece  was  known  to  every  one,  and  it  was  said 
that  he  desired  to  bring  about  a  marriage  between  her 
and  his  only  child,  a  young  man  at  present  travelling  in 


64  EEDBANK. 

Europe.  These  thoughts  now  came  to  Jessie,  together 
with  the  idea  of  his  being  full  of  years  and  honors.  In 
the  confusion  of  her  mind,  every  item  she  had  ever 
heard  of  him  combined  to  produce  a  vague  feeling  of 
remoteness.  She  seemed  entirely  outside  the  world  in 
which  he  moved ;  did  he  indeed  wish  her  to  enter  it, 
and  henceforth  become  its  central  figure  ?  The  idea 
was  incredible,  and  she  simply  refused  to  accept  it. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  do  not  understand  you,"  she  said,  fixing 
her  large  eyes  upon  him.  "  I  can  easily  believe  that  you 
like  me,  and  enjoy  the  banter  we  always  indulge  in,  when 

together,  but "  and  her  voice  died  away  in  a  faint 

and  unintelligible  whisper. 

"  Jessie,"  he  answered  in  his  low,  calm  tones,  "  I  want 
you  to  be  my  wife — surely  you  can  understand  that. 
Does  it,  indeed,  seem  so  incredible  that  I  should  dare  to 
love  you  ? — an  old  man  like  me  ?  My  darling  child,  old 
as  I  am,  I  still  have  something  to  offer  you — a  heart  full 
of  tenderness  and  love.  Despite  the  difference  in  years, 
we  seem  suited  to  each  other.  You  know  we  always 
enjoy  being  together :  the  companionship  is  just  as  sweet 
as  if  I  were  many  years  younger.  Jessie,  I  can  give 
you  many  things  that  you  are  made  to  enjoy — I  can 
place  you  in  a  world  of  beauty  where  every  wish  of 
yours  shall  be  gratified.  Come,  my  darling,  say  that 
you  will  consent  to  be  my  wife." 

Again  she  looked  up  at  him  with  that  frightened 
expression  in  her  eyes.  "  I  cannot,"  she  gasped ;  "  I 
cannot  marry  any  one.  I  like  you  very,  very  much, 
but "  and  again  she  paused. 

"  But  what  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  to  put  it,"  she  said.  "  I  cannot 
think  of  you  in  that  way.  You  seem  so  far  above  me — 
so  great,  so  learned,  so -" 


REDBANE.  05 

"  So  old  !  "  he  exclaimed,  somewhat  sadly.  "  Say  it 
out,  my  dear.  You  have  always  thought  of  a  young 
man,  an  Apollo  with  curling  locks  and  god-like  strength." 

"•  I  have  not  thought  much  about  it,"  she  answered, 
timidly.  "  If  I  ever  marry,  it  will  be  because  I  cannot 
help  it,  becaiise  I  love  somebody  better  than  myself  and 
really  belong  to  him.  Even  then,  I  shall  yield  reluc 
tantly,  for,  to  me,  marriage  seems  like  bondage."  There 
was  a  flash  in  her  eyes  as  she  said  this.  Neither  of  them 
spoke  for  a  while  ;  the  ticking  of  the  clock  upon  the 
mantelpiece  sounded  loud  and  strange  to  the  young 
girl,  as  she  sat  almost  motionless  beside  her  grave 
suitor. 

"  I  will  not  accept  that  as  an  answer,"  he  said  at 
length.  "  I  want  to  tell  you  something  about  yourself 
and  your  future,  as  I  see  it ;  perhaps  then  you  may  feel 
differently.  Jessie,  you  are  an  orphan,  and  in  a  sense 
dependent  upon  the  care  of  your  sister  and  her  husband. 
From  certain  rumors,  which  I  have  recently  heard,  I 
fear  the  Colonel  has  managed  his  affairs  very  recklessly 
since  the  war,  and  is  now  deeply  in  debt.  These  diffi 
culties  will  not  improve  his  temper,  my  dear— I  know 
all  about  it.  Your  life  cannot  be  very  happy  now,  and 
I'm  afraid  it  will  be  less  so  as  time  goes  on.  Have  you 
ever  thought  of  this  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  answered,  frankly,  "  I  do  not  think  much 
about  the  future.  I  dare  say  I  shall  be  able  to  bear 
whatever  comes." 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "in  your  girlish  innocence  and  igno 
rance,  you  think  lightly  of  it  now — you  feel  capable  of 
devoting  yourself  to  others  ;  but  long  years  lie  before 
you  in  which  to  live  and  endure.  I  would  save  you 
from  the  trouble  that  lies  before  you.  Let  me  save  you, 
Jessie,"  he  pleaded  tenderly,  reaching  out  for  her  hand 


60  REDKANK. 

which  was  lying  idle  upon  her  lap.  She  innocently 
gave  it  to  him.  She  felt  his  goodness  and  the  truth  of 
his  prophetic  words  so  strongly  that  she  could  not  speak. 
"  Will  you  not  give  me  the  right  henceforth  to  protect 
you  from  all  suffering  ?  "  he  asked,  folding  her  little 
hand  between  his  own  soft  palms. 

"  You  could  not  do  that,"  she  answered,  the  tears 
coming  into  her  eyes ;  "  no  human  being  can  save  an 
other  from  suffering.  We  must  drink  the  cup  poured 
out  for  us,  however  bitter  it  may  be.  It  is  our  common 
lot." 

She  paused  a  moment,  and  then  continued,  "You 
are  very,  very  kind,  and  I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart ; 
but  indeed  I  cannot  marry  you.  You  have  always  been 
my  friend  since  the  first  time  we  met,  and  as  a  friend 
I  love  you  truly ;  but  marriage  means  something  more 
to  me  than  that." 

"  What  does  it  mean,  Jessie  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  union  of  souls — the  perfect  music,  set  to  noble 
words  !  "  She  looked  at  him  with  her  child-like  solemn 
gaze. 

"  Sometimes,  perhaps,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  but  not  often 
in  this  world  of  ours." 

He  was  thinking  of  his  own  youthful  marriage,  which 
had  been  a  fatal  mistake,  and  which  had  left  him  hungry 
for  love  all  through  his  long  life. 

"  It  must  mean  that  to  me,  otherwise  it  will  be  an 
intolerable  yoke.  You  understand  me,  do  you  not  ? 
You  would  not  have  me  sell  myself  for  ease  and  com 
fort  and  protection,  would  you  ?  " 

As  she  spoke,  her  sad  eyes  were  full  of  mute  entreaty, 
and  there  was  a  quiver  of  pain  about  her  sweet  mouth. 

"  Yes,  I  understand  you,  my  darling  child,"  he  said 
in  a  tone  that  sounded  far  away ;  "  I  understand  you 


EEDBANK.  67 

perfectly,  and  it  only  increases  my  love  and  reverence 
for  you.  It  is  hard  to  tell  you  all  I  feel ;  perhaps,  if  I 
could,  you  would  not  care  to  listen  to  me.  It  would 
sound  like  the  folly  of  an  old  idiot." 

"  No,  no,"  she  cried,  "  believe  me,  it  is  not  because 
you  are  old — I  never  think  of  that.  But  I  do  not  want 
to  marry  any  one.  Surely  I  ought  to  respect  such  a 
feeling,  and  be  true  to  the  voice  within  me." 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,"  he  said ;  "  I  have  been  very  fool 
ish,  but  it  is  over  now.  Forgive  me.  You  look  so  white 
that  I  almost  feel  as  if  I  were  the  villain  in  some  play." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  forgive,"  she  answered.  "  You 
are  very  kind  to  care  so  much  for  me.  I  hope  you  will 
always  be  my  friend." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  will ;  if  I  cannot  be  more,  I  will 
not  be  less.  There,  we  will  not  talk  any  more  about  it," 
and  he  raised  her  hand  to  his  lips.  "  Will  you  come 
now  for  the  ride  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  said,  "  wait  till  another  day." 

"  Well,  good-bye,  then." 

"  Good-bye,"  she  echoed  faintly. 

She  sat  very  still,  listening  as  he  crossed  the  hall,  and 
went  down  the  steps  of  the  piazza.  From  the  window 
she  watched  him  as  he  entered  his  carriage  and  drove 
away.  Then  she  got  up  from  the  sofa,  like  one  who 
walks  in  sleep,  went  upstairs  to  her  room,  and  threw 
herself  heavily  upon  the  bed.  Only  a  long  sleep  re 
stored  her  to  her  usual  self.  When  she  awoke,  it  v/as 
dark.  She  sat  up,  rubbed  her  eyes,  and  for  a  moment 
wondered  what  disagreeable  thing  had  happened  to  her. 
As  soon  as  she  recalled  it  all,  she  smiled  to  herself  and 
said — "  My  first  suitor  !  What  a  pity  I  could  not  love 
him  and  say  '  yes.'  But  it  shall  not  change  things  be 
tween  us — I  like  him  too  well  for  that.  Dear  old  Judge  ! 


G!S  EEDBANK. 

Of  all  the  men  I  ever  met,  I  like  you  best.  Your  non 
sense  is  just  delicious.  At  your  age,  I  do  not  think  you 
will  die  of  love,  so  it  is  not  worth  while  for  me  to  feel 
very  badly  over  it.  Dear  me  !  there's  the  supper  bell ! 
What  a  long  nap  I've  taken  ! " 

She  arose  hastily,  shook  out  her  dress,  smoothed  her 
hair  in  the  darkness,  and  descended  to  the  dining-room. 
She  had  made  up  her  mind  that  neither  the  Colonel 
nor  Eleanor  should  know  anything  about  it,  but  the  fates 
were  against  her.  Almost  as  soon  as  she  had  seated  her 
self,  Colonel  Winston,  in  a  most  unsuspecting  mood,  said  : 

"  Well,  you  ladies  have  had  a  call  from  Judge  Brooks 
— haven't  you  ?  How  handsome  those  horses  of  his  are  ! 
He  drove  them  all  the  way  from  the  city  in  less  than  an 
hour,  and  they  looked  perfectly  fresh." 

"  Why,  has  he  been  here  ?."  asked  Mrs.  Winston,  quite 
innocently  ;  "  I  didn't  see  him — did  you,  Jessie  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl,  a  tell-tale  color  springing  to  her 
cheeks.  "  He  made  only  a  short  call,  and  left  his  re 
gards  for  you." 

Mrs.  Winston  and  her  husband  looked  at  each  other, 
— a  flash  of  intelligence  passed  between  them. 

"  I  hope  you  treated  him  with  the  courtesy  that  such 
a  gentleman  deserves,"  said  the  Colonel,  a  little  severely. 

"  I  do  not  think  I  failed  in  politeness,"  Jessie  replied 
in  a  cold  tone,  without  lifting  her  eyes. 

"  I'm  afraid,  like  all  women,  you  are  a  perfect  simple 
ton,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel,  with  a  shade  of  annoyance 
in  his  manner. 

"  Perhaps  I  am,"  she  answered,  simply  ;  "at  least,  it  is 
better  to  be  foolish  than  to  be  false."  That  ended  the 
matter,  but  it  was  long  before  Jessie  Holcombe  forgot 
the  words  and  tone  of  her  brother-in-law.  They  had 
left  a  sting. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

ONE  morning,  when  Jessie  came  down  to  breakfast, 
she  found  a  dainty  note  lying  upon  her  plate.  She  tore 
open  the  envelope  and  read  it  eagerly.  "It  is  from 
Alice,"  she  said,  after  she  had  restored  it  to  the  envel 
ope  ;  "  her  mother  has  taken  cold,  and  is  quite  sick. 
She  wants  me  to  come  over  and  spend  a  few  days  with 
her.  Can  you  spare  me,  Nell  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  you  must  go,"  Eleanor  answered.  "  It  will 
be  very  pleasant  for  you.  What  time  do  you  want  to 
start  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  possible  after  dinner.  Harry,  you  will 
go  with  me,  won't  you  ?  We  can  go  on  horseback,  and 
the  ride  will  be  delightful." 

"  Oh  !  yes.  I  will  go  with  pleasure,"  he  quickly  an 
swered. 

"  How  many  miles  is  it  from  here,  anyway  ?  "  asked 
Jessie  ;  "  I've  travelled  it  often  enough,  but  I  have  no 
idea  how  far  it  is." 

"  Why,  it  must  be  four  or  five  miles,"  Harry  replied. 

"  I  should  think  you  could  be  more  exact  than  that," 
said  the  Colonel,  smiling.  Of  late  his  temper  had  im 
proved  somewhat,  and  this  morning  he  was  in  a  very 
genial  mood.  Everybody  reflected  his  good-humor, 
and  the  meal  was  more  cheerful  than  usual. 

"  Why  do  you  think  so  ?  "  asked  Harry,  turning  his 

attention  from  his  plate.     He  had  a  very  bold,  black  eye, 

69 


70  REDBANK. 

and  was  never  afraid  to  look  any  one  straight  in  the 
face.  He  now  fixed  his  gaze  intently  upon  the  Colonel, 
who  replied : 

"  It  seems  to  me  of  late  you  have  travelled  over  that 
road  often  enough  to  know  the  distance  between  here 
and  there  to  an  inch." 

"  Perhaps  I  have,"  the  young  man  answered  care 
lessly  ;  "  but  generally  I  have  something  pleasanter 
than  miles  to  think  about." 

"  Well,  Alice  Brooks  is  a  mighty  nice  girl,"  said  the 
Colonel, — "  one  of  the  quiet  kind,  such  as  I  like.  They 
seem  to  be  going  out  of  fashion  these  days.  Nettie 
Hunter  is  the  style  now.  I  would  not  have  such  a 
daughter  for  fifty  thousand  dollars,  much  as  I  need  the 
money." 

"  Now  I  think  she  is  immensely  amusing,"  said  Harry ; 
"  though  how  in  the  world  she  ever  got  into  that  nest  I 
can't  imagine." 

"  Nor  I,  neither,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  Some 
times  I  am  almost  inclined  to  believe  that  there  are 
human  cuckoos," — and  he  laughed  heartily. 

"  I'm  always  curious  to  know  what  Nettie  is  going  to 
do  next,"  said  Jessie ;  "  she  is  so  full  of  whimsical 
notions  that  she  keeps  one  on  the  lookout  all  the  time." 

"  I  prophesy  that  she  will  marry  some  day,  just  like 
other  girls,"  said  Mrs.  Winston, "  and  settle  down  into  a 
very  commonplace  woman — a  little  cross,  too,  perhaps, 
for  she  will  never  find  a  husband  as  indulgent  as  her 
father." 

"  I,  for  one,  wouldn't  like  to  marry  her,"  said  Harry ; 
"  she  loves  powerfully  to  have  her  own  way,  and  knows 
how  to  kick  up  a  row  when  she  can't  get  it.  I  have 
seen  her  sometimes  when  she  was  slightly  thwarted.  I 
tell  you  she  can  look  dangerous." 


REDBANK.  71 

"  Alice  Brooks  will  make  a  much  better  wife  accord 
ing  to  my  opinion,"  said  the  Colonel.  "  She  is  a  sweet- 
tempered  creature,  and  will  accept  whatever  comes  with 
proper  resignation." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that,"  exclaimed  Jessie,  who  saw 
the  drift  of  the  conversation.  "  Alice  is  amiable,  but 
she  is  a  girl  of  very  strong  character.  She  has  her  ideal 
of  what  is  right,  and  woe  unto  those  who  depart  from 
it." 

"  She  does  not  strike  me  that  way  at  all,"  said  the 
Colonel ;  "  she  looks  as  sweet  and  tender  as  a  ripe 
peach." 

"  I  think  I  know  her  better  than  you  do,"  was  the 
reply.  Jessie  could  not  resist  the  impulse  to  give  Harry 
a  slight  warning.  If  he  were  indeed  bent  on  winning 
this  girl  for  his  wife,  it  would  be  necessary  for  him  to 
hold  himself  with  a  strong  rein.  No  one  pursued  the 
conversation  farther,  so  it  ended  here. 

That  afternoon  as  the  brother  and  sister  were  riding 
along  slowly  over  the  miles  between  Redbank  and  The 
Grove,  as  the  plantation  of  Mrs.  Brooks  was  called, 
Harry  broke  the  silence  by  saying,  "  Well,  little  sis,  I 
really  think  I'm  making  some  progress  in  a  certain  direc 
tion.  I'm  sure  she  likes  me ;  in  a  month  she  will  be 
madly  in  love.  She's  one  of  the  kind  who  will  go  into 
it  deep." 

"  And  how  about  yourself,  Harry  ?  Surely  you  are 
not  going  to  win  her  heart  without  giving  yours  in 
return  ?  " 

"  Don't  afflict  yourself  on  that  score,"  he  answered. 
"  If  she  is  satisfied  with  what  I  give,  that's  enough,  I 
reckon.  You  may  be  sure  I  shall  have  to  think  a  good 
deal  of  a  woman  before  I  consent  to  tie  myself  down  to 
her.  It's  an  awful  sacrifice." 


72         .  EEDBANK. 

"  Yes,  on  her  part,"  said  Jessie.  "  I've  never  seen 
much  on  the  man's.  He  comes  and  goes  at  pleasure,  in 
spite  of  the  marriage  vows.  With  the  woman  it  is  alto 
gether  different — she  is  the  one  who  is  tied." 

"Now,  you  are  not  a  man,  Jessica,  and  you  don't 
know  anything  about  it,"  he  answered,  lightly.  "  I  in 
sist  that  a  fellow  gives  up  his  freedom  when  he  marries. 
He  no  longer  dares  to  get  on  a  little  spree,  however 
dry  he  may  be." 

"  That  is  superlative  nonsense  !  "  she  exclaimed ;  "  he 
sprees  just  as  much  as  he  pleases,  and  if  his  wife  doesn't 
like  it,  why,  she  may  go  to  Jericho." 

"  You  are  the  most  knowing  little  woman  that  I  ever 
did  see,"  he  said,  with  a  laugh.  "  One  cannot  start  any 
subject  of  conversation  but  what  you  are  ready  with  an 
opinion.  Now*,  I  call  that  being  very  opinionated,  and 
3rou  know  what  father  used  to  say  about  such  females." 

"  Father  was  very  old-fashioned  on  some  subjects.  I 
have  not  inherited  his  ideas  about  women — I  think  you 
have.  You  ought  to  have  been  born  fifty  or  a  hundred 
years  ago,  Harry.  You  came  into  the  world  too  late  for 
your  own  peace  of  mind.  "Women  are  no  longer  going 
to  bow  down  and  worship  men  ;  they  are  going  to  claim 
equal  rights  with  them." 

"  Do  you  think  the  great  era  of  emancipation  has 
come  ?"  he  exclaimed,  immensely  amused. 

"  I  do"  she  answered,  -emphatically.  "  I  read  a  good 
deal  more  than  you  do,  and  so  I  catch  a  breath  of  air 
from  the  outside  world.  This  is  not  the  eighteenth 
century — it  is  the  nineteenth,  and  the  latter  half,  too." 

"  I  wonder  if  Alice  Brooks  holds  such  views  ?  "  said 
Hany  in  his  lightest  mood.  He  was  only  amused  by 
Jessie's  little  feminine  flashes. 

"  Alice  Brooks  is  a  very  superior  girl,  Harry,"  said  his 


EEDBANK.  73 

sister ;  "  she  is  remarkably  well-educated,  and  has  read 
a  great  deal.  Though  she  is  so  quiet  and  talks  so  little, 
she  has  a  very  clear  head.  If  you  want  to  marry  her 
you  must  begin  a  course  of  training  right  away." 

"  If  she  marries  me  at  all,  she  will  have  to  take  me  as 
I  am,"  he  answered,  carelessly. 

"  If  you  can  say  that,  and  really  mean  it,  you  are  not 
worthy  of  her,"  Jessie  replied. 

After  this  they  rode  on  in  silence.  Just  before  they 
reached  The  Grove  he  turned  to  his  sister — 

"  Well,  Jessie,  if  she  should  say  anything  about  me, 
I  trust  you'll  speak  a  good  word  for  me." 

"  I  will  say  all  that  I  can  truthfully  say,"  she  an 
swered. 

They  found  Alice  Brooks  on  the  piazza  waiting  for 
them.  She  looked  almost  radiant  as  she  welcomed  them, 
and  conducted  them  into  the  house.  Something  hid 
surely  come  over  her  since  Jessie  Holcombe  had  last  seen 
her.  What  was  it?  Love,  perhaps.  Her  blue  eyes 
shone  with  a  new  light,  and  there  was  a  certain  vivacity 
and  playfulness  of  manner  which  Jessie  had  never  seen 
in  her  friend  before.  Alice  was  growing  like  her  uncle, 
the  Judge  ;  the  resemblance  was  so  strong  that  both  the 
brother  and  tho  sister  felt  it. 

"  Mamma  is  in  bed,  Jessie,"  said  the  young  hostess, 
"  but  she  wants  very  much  to  see  you  ;  so  you  must  run 
right  upstairs,  and  go  to  her  room." 

Jessie  obeyed,  and  Harry  and  Alice  were  left  alone 
in  the  parlor.  The  young  man  stayed  until  it  was 
almost  dark  ;  then  the  lady  went  out  on  the  piazza  for 
the  parting,  and  waved  him  a  final  adieu  with  her  hand 
kerchief. 

Jessie  Holcombe  found  herself  much  interested  in 
the  conversation  of  the  invalid,  and  did  not  go  down 


74  REDBANK. 

until  the  supper-bell  rang.  Alice  met  her  friend  at 
the  foot  of  the  staircase,  threw  her  arms  around  her 
in  a  warm,  impulsive  way  that  almost  startled  Jessie, 
and  exclaimed,  "  I  am  so  veiy  glad  to  have  you  with 
me,  dear.  I  have  such  lots  of  things  to  talk  ahout.  I 
am  going  to  keep  you  a  whole  week,  if  you  will  stay." 

"  Of  course  I  will,  if  you  want  me.  I'm  of  no  par 
ticular  account  at  home." 

"  Then  you  had  better  stay  a  month." 

"  Oh !  you  would  get  tired  of  me  in  a  month,  you 
would  never  want  to  see  my  face  again." 

"  Try  me  and  see,"  said  Alice,  "  I  don't  get  tired  of 
my  friends.  When  I  once  choose  them,  they  are  a  part 
of  myself  fo'rever." 

Jessie  turned  and  kissed  the  glowing  cheek.  She 
understood  what  this  confession  meant,  just  as  well  as 
sh(i  understood  it  a  few  hours  later,  after  they  had  had 
that  long  talk  before  going  to  bed. 

They  were  seated  side  by  side  upon  the  rug  in  front 
of  the  dying  fire.  They  had  been  talking  a  long  while 
on  various  topics,  discussing  the  news  of  the  neighbor 
hood,  and  the  nice  books  they  had  been  reading,  before 
the  subject  nearest  to  the  heart  of  Alice,  at  length, 
came  to  the  surface. 

In  a  pause,  she  said,  very  quietly,  "  I  invited  your 
brother  to  stay  to  supper  and  spend  the  night  with  us, 
but  he  would  not  consent.  Do  you  know  why  ?  Did 
he  have  some  other  engagement  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  Jessie  replied ;  "  he  does  not  tell 
me  much  about  himself.  In  a  certain  way,  he  is  very 
reticent.  I  never  know  where  he  is  going,  nor  where 
he  has  been.  Sometimes  he  goes  over  to  Dr.  Crump's 
for  a  game  of  whist,  and  stays  until  bed-time,  but  not 
often.  Perhaps  he  had  promised  to  go  to-night." 


BEDBANK.  75 

"  Perhaps  so,"  Alice  answered,  "  he  said  he  would  like 
ever  so  much  to  stay,  but  had  an  engagement  which 
he  could  not  break.  Of  course,  I  did  not  urge  him 
after  he  said  that.  He  admires  the  doctor's  pretty  wife 
very  much,  does  he  not  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  everybody  admires  her,"  said  Jessie,  "  I 
think  she  is  the  most  beautiful  woman  I  ever  saw — 
don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  she  is  perfectly  beautiful,  physically,  but,  do 
you  know,  I  think  she  is  very  shallow.  She  has  but 
two  ideas  in  her  pretty  head — one  is,  how  adorable  I  am ! 
The  other  is,  how  beautifully  I  am  dressed  I  " 

"  I  believe  that  is  Harry's  opinion  of  her  too.  He 
often  says  that  if  she  could  talk,  she  would  be  divine, 
and  all  the  men  would  be  ready  to  fall  down  and  wor 
ship  her." 

"  Does  he  really  say  that  ? "  asked  Alice.  "  I'm 
glad,  for,  do  you  know,  I  thought  that  he  was  quite  fas 
cinated  by  her." 

"  Oh !  no,"  said  Jessie,  "  I  don't  think  any  woman 
has  ever  yet  fascinated  Harry.  He  loves  to  flirt,  but 
he  is  very  fastidious,  and  will  not  be  easily  captivated. 
I  am  sure  that  he  has  never  yet  been  seriously  in  love." 

"I  am  so  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,"  exclaimed 
Alice,  giving  the  dying  coals  a  poke  with  the  tongs, 
and  putting  the  chunks  up  together  as  if  desirous  to 
rekindle  the  fire.  "  Do  you  know,  Jessie,  your  brother 
puzzles  me  a  good  deal.  I  cannot  exactly  understand 
him.  Sometimes  I  think  he  is  very  much  in  love  with 
a  girl,  and  the  next  time  I  see  them  together,  he  hardly 
notices  her." 

Jessie  laughed.  "  That's  the  true  complexion  of  a 
flirt,"  she  said,  rather  surprised  at  the  innocence  of 
her  friend. 


76  REDBANE. 

"  You  don't  really  mean  to  say  that  he  trifles  with 
girls,  do  you  ?  I  should  despise  him,  if  he  did." 

"  Yes,  with  some  girls  he  really  does  trifle  and  flirt ; 
but  he  knows  very  well  with  whom  he  can  play  that 
game.  Besides  the  girl  usually  begins  it.  Alice  dear, 
he  would  never  flirt  with  you — he  has  too  much  respect 
for  you." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  she  asked,  while  the  color  deep 
ened  on  her  cheek.  She  was  evidently  stirred  by  some 
over-mastering  emotion,  for  one  moment  her  face  was 
all  aglow,  and  the  next  it  was  almost  as  white  as  her 
night-dress.  "  Jessie,"  she  said,  softly,  after  a  long 
pause,  "  perhaps  I  ought  not  to  talk  to  you  about  it, 
but  somehow  I  cannot  help  it.  Will  you  let  me  ask 
you  frankly  just  one  question  ?  " 

"What  is  it,  dear?" 

"  Do  you  think  your  brother  is  really  in  earnest?  He 
comes  here  continually,  and  treats  me  in  a  fashion  alto 
gether  new.  Do  you  think  he  means  anything  by  it?" 

"  I  am  sure  he  does,"  said  Jessie,  very  solemnly.  Noble 
woman  that  she  was,  her  heart  was  beating  quickly  now. 
She  wished  to  be  true  to  her  friend  and  true  to  her 
brother.  Was  it  possible  to  be  true  to  both  ? 

"Well,  I  would  like  to  know  the  very  truth,"  said 
Alice.  "  Jessie,  I  am  sure  you  will  keep  my  confidence 
sacred,  or  I  would  not  talk  to  you  as  I  am  doing.  You 
must  never  let  your  brother  know  that  I  have  spoken  a 
word  to  you  about  it.  You  will  not,  dear  ?  " 

"  Never,  never !  Wild  horses  could  not  wring  it  from 
me." 

Alice  continued,  "  I  sometimes  feel  as  if  I  were  stand 
ing  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  ready  to  fall.  I  must 
reach  out  my  hand  to  some  one.  I  cannot  speak  to 
mamma,  because,  you  know,  she  wants  me  to  marry  my 


REDBANK.  77 

cousin  Waverley.  Jessie,  I  am  sure  you  can  help  me. 
I  am  afraid  that  I  am  beginning  to  love  your  brother. 
Tell  me,  please,  tell  me  ! — do  you  think  he  is  worthy  of 
my  love  ?  "  She  paused  a  moment,  and  buried  her  face 
in  her  hands  as  if  ashamed  of  the  confession  that  she 
had  been  constrained  to  make.  Presently  she  looked 
up  at  her  companion,  and  with  a  touch  of  pathos  in  her 
voice :  "  Forgive  me  for  asking  such  a  question.  It 
must  be  very  hard  for  you  to  answer  it ;  but,  Jessie,  you 
must  know  that  there  are  many  rumors  in  the  county 
about  your  brother.  Some  people  say  that  he  is  good  for 
nothing;  some  say  that  he  is  very  dissipated — that  he  gets 
drunk  and  gambles  ;  others  says  that  he  is  in  love  with 
the  doctor's  wife,  and  will  run  away  with  her  some  day, 
if  he  can  get  the  chance.  Now,  of  course,  I  do  not  be 
lieve  all  this  idle  talk,  but  I  would  like  to  know  if  you 
think  that  I  can  safely  give  way  to  the  impulse  of  my 
heart.  Do  you  think  him  worthy  of  my  love  ?  " 

Jessie  Holcombe  looked  into  the  soft,  almost  tearful, 
eyes  that  were  fixed  steadfastly  upon  her,  and  answered, 
"  Alice,  I  hope  he  is.  It  would  be  hard  for  me  to  rob 
him  of  such  a  treasure  as  your  love  by  saying  that  he  is 
not  worthy  of  it.  I  will  be  very  candid  with  you,  dear ; 
not  for  the  world  would  I  deceive  you  after  the  confi 
dence  you  have  given  me.  Harry  has  some  grave  faults 
— I  will  not  deny  it.  He  was  only  a  boy  when  the  war 
began.  During  those  four  years  my  father  and  my 
eldest  brother  were  both  away  in  the  army,  and  Harry 
had  very  little  restraint  of  any  kind  imposed  upon  him. 
Off  and  on,  he  was  himself  a  great  deal  of  the  time  in 
camp  and  was  thrown  into  the  midst  of  dreadful  things. 
I  cannot  bear  to  think  of  it.  But,  in  spite  of  this,  he 
has  many  noble  qualities.  At  home  he  is  very  amiable 
and  gentle — kind  and  obliging  to  every  one.  You  know 


78  11EDBANK. 

in  battle  he  proved  himself  the  bravest  of  the  brave. 
He  was  the  spoiled  darling  of  his  regiment." 

Her  words  had  been  very  rapid,  for  she  was  eager  to 
say  all  that  she  could  truthfully  say  in  defence  of  her 
brother.  After  a  short  pause  for  breath,  she  con 
tinued, 

"  I  wish  you  could  see  him  with  Lilian — he  is  very 
fond  of  her.  She  goes  to  sleep  in  his  arms  every  night 
while  he  sings  to  her  or  tells  her  stories.  Then  he 
carries  her  upstairs  to  bed  as  tenderly  as  a  woman 
could.  If  he  ever  marries,  I  know  he  will  be  devoted  to 
his  wife  and  children,  for  he  has  a  vein  of  true  chivalry 
in  his  nature.  I  know  he  drinks  sometimes,  but  I 
have  never  seen  him  drunk.  I  am  afraid  that  he 
gambles  too,  but  I  think  it  is  because  he  is  restless  and 
unhappy,  rather  than  because  he  cares  for  cards.  Alice, 
I  think  he  intends  to  ask  you  to  marry  him,  and,  if  you 
truly  love  him,  I  am  sure  you  can  do  much  to  help  him 
to  be  better  than  he  is.  His  greatest  fault  is  that  he 
does  not  know  what  to  do  with  himself.  He  seems  per 
fectly  at  sea,  and  plunges  first  into  one  thing,  then  into 
another.  It  makes  me  very  unhappy  to  think  of  it.  I 
hope  I  have  not  made  the  impression  upon  your  mind  that 
he  is  better  than  he  really  is.  He  is  full  of  faults,  Alice 
— I  cannot  deny  it,  but  I  do  believe  that  there  is  some 
thing  truly  noble  in  his  nature." 

"  Jessie,"  whispered  the  girl,  "  I  know  that  I  could 
love  him  madly — he  is  just  the  man  to  inspire  a  grand 
passion.  He  is  handsome,  brilliant,  and  light-hearted  ; 
he  fascinates  me  strangely.  He  seems  a  kind  of  hero — 
a  splendid  cavalry  officer  who  could  ride  at  the  head  of 
a  regiment  and  throw  his  life  away.  But,  dear,  I  am 
afraid  of  him.  Sometimes  I  almost  hope  that  he  will 
never  ask  me  to  marry  him.  It  would  be  very,  very 


79 

hard  to  reject  him  and  yet  I  could  not  accept  him  with 
out  disregarding  a  warning  voice  within  me." 

The  little  French  clock  on  the  mantel-piece  struck 
twelve. 

"  How  late  it  is  !  "  exclaimed  Alice,  "  I  did  not  dream 
that  we  had  been  talking  so  long.  I  suppose  we  ought 
to  go  to  bed  now." 

In  a  few  minutes,  the  lamp  was  blown  out,  and  soon 
they  were  both  asleep.  The  friendship  between  these 
two  young  girls  had  been  of  slow  growth,  but  it  had 
taken  deep  root  in  the  heart  of  each,  and  promised  to  be 
as  lasting  as  life  itself.  They  were  much  alike  in  many 
ways.  They  both  were  fond  of  books,  of  music,  of  riding, 
of  walking.  Both  had  ideas  about  the  philosophy  of 
life,  the  moral  structure  of  the  universe,  and  all  the 
other  high  things  that  young  ladies  handle  nowadays. 
But,  in  character,  there  .were  some  points  of  difference 
between  them.  The  life  of  Alice  Brooks  had  been  one 
of  unclouded  sunshine.  Her  delicate  maidenhood  had 
been  sheltered  from  all  the  rude  winds  of  heaven.  Hav 
ing  seen  but  a  small  side  of  human  existence,  her  sympa 
thies  were  not  so  broad  as  Jessie's ;  having  been  reared 
with  rigid  ideas  of  right  and  wrong,  she  had  but  little 
indulgence  for  the  erring.  Jessie  Holcombe's  soul  had 
been  stirred  to  its  lowest  depths  by  sorrow.  She  had 
an  almost  infinite  pity  for  all  those  who  go  astray  ;  she 
could  have  gathered  them  in  her  arms  of  love  and  helped 
them  to  rise  again.  Not  so  with  Alice  ;  it  was  her 
impulse  to  cut  them  off  forever  like  branches  that  cum 
ber  the  ground. 

The  two  friends  enjoyed  every  moment  of  their  stay 
together.  They  rode,  they  read,  they  walked,  they 
talked,  they  played  chess,  they  practiced  duets  on  the 
piano.  This  visit  was  to  both  a  kind  of  revelation  of 


80  REDBANK. 

themselves,  each  to  the  other.  Alice  had  not  before 
guessed  the  heights  and  depths  of  Jessie's  nature,  nor 
Jessie  the  heights  and  depths  of  her  friend's.  The  days 
had  passed  very  quickly  in  this  sweet  companionship — 
the  week  was  already  gone,  and  still  the  young  hostess 
of  The  Grove  would  not  consent  for  her  guest  to  depart. 
Mrs.  Brooks  continued  ill  and  urged  the  loneliness  of 
her  daughter  as  an  argument  for  this  prolonged  visit. 
Harry  came  over  frequently  to  inquire  about  the  invalid, 
and  also  to  ask  about  the  plans  of  his  sister.  Jessie 
could  easily  see  that  he  was  pushing  his  suit  with  tact 
as  well  as  boldness.  She  could  not  but  hope  that  the 
course  of  this  love  would  run  smooth,  and  yet  she  well 
knew  that  it  would  encounter  opposition  from  both  the 
mother  and  the  uncle  of  the  young  girl  whose  fate  was 
at  stake.  Their  very  hearts  were  bent  upon  the  union 
of  Alice  with  her  cousin. 

Waverley  Brooks  was  expected  to  return  from  Europe 
some  time  during  the  coming  summer.  Alice  talked 
freely  about  his  return,  and  all  the  plans  that  had  been 
made  by  her  uncle.  They  were  all  going  north  in  July, 
to  be  absent  several  months.  Waverley  was  expected 
to  land  and  join  them  early  in  August,  and  they  were 
to  make  a  tour  of  the  pleasant  summer  resorts  of  the 
Northern  States.  Alice  did  not  seem  to  be  at  all  en 
thusiastic  over  this  prospect.  Once  she  said  to  her 
friend : 

"  I  do  wish  that  I  could  be  left  behind.  It  would  be 
ever  so  much  nicer  to  stay  here  at  home  with  my  books. 
How  much  I  could  read.  I  do  hate  the  idea  of  being 
dragged  around  from  place  to  place,  of  having  to  dress, 
and  dance,  and  laugh,  and  talk,  when  I  would  prefer  to 
be  silent.  I  do  not  seem  made  for  such  a  life.  After 
a  while,  it  really  disgusts  me." 


HEDKANR.  81 

"  Now,  I  would  like  it  immensely,"  exclaimed  Jessie. 
"  It  must  be  delightful  to  travel,  and  see  sights,  and 
meet  famous  people,  and  go  to  brilliant  entertainments. 
Sometimes  I  long  with  my  whole  heart  for  such  pomps 
and  vanities." 

"  Then  do  let's  change  places,"  said  Alice. 

"  I  wish  we  could.  Do  you  know,  Alice  dear,  that 
you  seem  to  me  the  most  enviable  person  I  have  ever 
met  in  my  whole  life." 

"  Do  I,  Jessie  ?  Ah !  I  have  my  little  troubles  as 
well  as  others," — and  a  slight  sigh  escaped  her  lips. 

Jessie's  visit  lengthened  itself  to  three  weeks,  but  in 
spite  of  the  ever-increasing  intimacy  between  the  two 
friends,  nothing  more  was  said  by  either  of  them  about 
Harry.  Long  years  passed  away  before  the  heart  of 
Alice  Brooks  was  again  unveiled. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SPEING  was  slowly  advancing,  and  life  was  moving 
on  at  Redbank  in  its  usual  monotonous  course.  The 
weather  continued  to  be  remarkably  fine,  tempting  every 
one  out  of  doors.  The  Colonel  was  wholly  absorbed  in 
the  planting  of  cotton.  Having  no  overseer,  he  spent 
much  of  his  time  on  horseback,  riding  around,  inspecting 
the  vast  fields,  and  overlooking  the  busy  negroes. 
Eleanor  found  many  things  to  claim  her  attention  ;  the 
garden,  the  orchard,  the  poultry-yard,  the  daily,  the 
nursery,  each  daily  demanded  a  share  of  her  time. 

Harry  came  and  went,  in  a  lazy  and  aimless  fashion. 
Sometimes  he  would  ride  away  and  not  return  for 
several  days,  while  the  household  were  left  to  wonder 
what  had  become  of  him ;  sometimes  he  would  go  off 
with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  spend  hours  in  ram 
bling  through  the  lonely  woods  and  swamps.  Though 
it  was  not  the  season  for  sport,  and  he  did  not  even 
carry  a  game-bag  with  him,  still  his  gun  was  always  the 
mute  companion  of  these  solitary  walks. 

Jessie  spent  much  of  her  time  on  the  broad  piazzas ; 
here  the  baby  came  with  his  playthings,  and  here  Lilian 
brought  her  books  for  the  daily  lessons  with  her  aunt. 
Jessie  read  and  sewed,  with  the  glad  heart  of  spring 
time  beating  in  her  bosom.  The  earth  seemed  too 
beautiful  for  any  thought  of  sorrow  or  trouble.  She 


EEDBANK.  83 

often  accompanied  her  brother-in-law  in  his  rides  to  the 
mill  and  over  the  fields,  and  she  was  never  so  happy  as 
when  mounted  on  the  back  of  Dolly.  The  Colonel  was 
now  as  genial  an  escort  as  any  lady  could  desire.  He 
had  received  generous  pecuniary  assistance  from,  his 
brother,  and  was  a  changed  man.  Adversity  may  refine 
the  gold,  but  prosperity  molds  and  polishes  it. 

One  morning,  when  Jessie  came  down,  equipped  for 
a  ride,  she  was  disappointed  not  to  find  Dolly  at  the 
front  door,  ready  saddled,  beside  the  Colonel's  horse. 
She  immediately  went  in  search  of  Peyton.  She  found 
him  in  the  stable,  busy  grooming  the  carriage  horses. 
Though  they  were  now  too  old  to  be  often  used,  Colonel 
Winston  insisted  that  they  should  receive  the  same 
attention  that  had  been  formerly  lavished  upon  them. 

"  Peyton,"  the  young  lady  cried  out  on  seeing  him, 
"  I  thought  you  knew  I  was  going  to  ride  this  morning. 
Where  is  Dolly  ?  I  am  ready,  and  the  Colonel  is  wait 
ing  for  me." 

"  Well,  Miss  Jessie,"  said  the  negro,  after  a  short 
pause,  in  which  he  showed  great  reluctance  to  speak, 
"  you  mustn't  blame  me,  but  de  truf  is,  Dolly's  gone." 

"  Gone  where  ?  "  the  girl  exclaimed  aghast.  "  What 
do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  las'  night,  'bout  ten  o'clock,"  said  the  negro, 
"  Marse  Harry,  h»  came  to  my  house  an'  ordered  me  to 
go  right  straight  to  de  stable  an'  saddle  Dolly  for  him. 
I  didn't  know  but  you'd  said  dat  he  mought  hab  her, 
tho'  de  truf  is,  I  could  see  dat  Marse  Harry  he  wasn't 
fitten  ter  ride  a  horse  las'  night.  But,  you  see,  Miss 
Jessie,  'twasn't  my  part  to  say  so,  or  to  'spute  wid  him  ; 
an'  arter  de  horse  was  saddled  wid  his  ole  cavalry 
saddle,  he  jes'  rode  off,  an'  I  ain't  seen  Dolly  sense !  " 

"  But  where  is  Harry's  horse  ?  "  she  asked. 


84  RELtiANK. 

"  Lor !  Miss  Jessie,  dat  horse  o'  his'n  is  pritty  nigh 
used  up.  She's  got  de  sore  back,  an'  de  spavin,  an'  is 
lame  in  de  lef '  fore  leg.  Marse  Harry,  he  bin  ridin'  like 
lightnin'  lately.  I  dinno  what  bin  de  matter  wid  him  ; 
when  he  gets  on  a  horse  he  rides  him  pritty  nigh  to  de'f ." 

Jessie  said  not  a  word,  but  she  turned  away  and  went 
into  the  house.  She  sat  down  quietly  in  her  own  room 
and  tried  to  calm  her  violent  emotion,  for  she  was  very 
angry.  It  had  been  a  long  time  since  she  had  felt  such 
indignation.  This,  then,  was  what  could  follow  the  recent 
good  conduct  of  her  brother.  It  was  indeed  impossible 
ever  to  trust  him.  He  could  be  respectable  and  gentle 
manly  for  a  while,  but  there  was  no  abiding  strength  to 
his  character.  It  seemed  almost  incredible  that  he  should 
take  her  horse  without  even  asking  permission,  and  go 
off  in  that  clandestine  way,  under  the  shelter  of  dark 
ness.  His  want  of  honor  wounded  her  deeply.  She 
was  ashamed  of  him,  ashamed  that  he  bore  the  good  old 
name  of  which  she  had  always  been  so  proud,  ashamed 
to  think  that  she  had  told  Alice  Brooks  that  he  was 
worthy  of  her  love.  And  then  her  horse — the  horse 
that  Richard,  her  noble  brother,  had  been  riding  when 
the  fatal  bullet  pierced  his  brain  ! — the  beautiful,  gentle 
creature  that  she  had  loved  and  caressed  for  years  ! 
Would  Harry  care  for  Richard's  horse  as  she  did  ? 
Would  he  see  that  no  harm  came  to  her  ?  He  had  been 
drinking  probably, — yes,  Peyton  as  *good  as  told  her 
he  was  drunk  ;  if  that  were  true,  Harry  would  care  for 
nothing — the  fire  within  him  would  consume  both  heart 
and  conscience.  She  had  never  seen  him  drunk,  but 
she  could  guess  how  wild  and  mad  drunken  men  might 
be.  How  could  he  so  debase  himself !  A  vague  dread 
came  over  her — a  dread  of  some  awful  catastrophe  to 
follow.  All  day  long,  with  a  heavy  heart,  she  watched 


REDBANK.  85 

and  waited  for  her  brother  to  return,  but  he  did  not  come. 
As  the  afternoon  waned  and  twilight  approached,  she 
grew  almost  sick  with  anxiety.  "  What  can  it  mean  ?  " 
she  asked  herself  again  and  again.  She  went  to  bed  with 
the  thought  that  perhaps,  as  he  had  gone  in  the  night  he 
would  return  in  the  night.  In  the  early  dawn,  she  got 
up,  dressed  herself  hurriedly,  and  went  out  in  the  stables 
to  see  if  Dolly  was  safely  back  in  her  stall.  No,  she  was 
not  there.  Peyton  only  shook  his  head  when  she  asked 
the  question. 

Another  day  passed  away,  and  yet  Harry  did  not  come ; 
and  another  and  another,  until  the  feverish  anxiety  of 
the  young  girl  had  changed  into  a  dull  and  heavy  heart 
ache.  She  no  longer  dared  to  imagine  what  had  hap 
pened — it  must  be  some  thing  dreadful,  and  every  footstep 
in  the  hall  seemed  to  belong  to  the  bearer  of  ill-tidings. 
The  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Winston  had  both  been  surprised 
and  indignant,  when  the  knowledge  of  Harry's  conduct 
had  come  to  them.  They  knew  him  too  well  to  think 
that  all  would  be  well  with  Dolly.  It  pained  them  to 
see  Jessie's  white  face,  so  full  of  silent  suffering.  She 
had  not  discussed  the  matter  with  any  one.  How  could 
she  bear  to  speak  of  it,  when  her  own  brother  was  the 
culprit  ?  A  common  thief  could  not  have  done  worse. 
It  would  have  been  even  better  for  Dolly  if  a  common 
thief  had  broken  into  the  stables,  and  carried  her  off. 
Such  a  criminal  might  have  been  pursued,  arrested,  and 
forced  to  surrender  the  horse.  It  would  have  been  for 
his  interest  also  to  take  care  of  the  animal  that  he  had 
stolen.  But  Harry  could  not  be  pursued,  and  he  would 
never  think  of  poor  Dolly,  except  to  bury  his  sharp 
cavalry  spurs  in  her  glossy  sides  to  make  her  go  faster. 

At  length  one  morning,  a  week  after  his  disappearance, 
Lizzie,  the  maid,  rushed  excitedly  into  the  room,  while 


86  REDBANK. 

her  young  mistress  was  dressing,  and  told  her  that 
"  Marse  Harry  had  come  back  in  de  night."  Jessie 
threw  on  her  clothes  with  feverish  haste,  and  hurried 
out  to  see  if  her  horse  was  safe  and  sound.  Colonel 
Winston  met  her  on  the  piazza ;  he  was  looking  very 
grave  ;  her  heart  sank  within  her.  "  Is  anything  the 
matter  ?  "  she  asked,  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,"  he  answered  in  a  very  kind  tone, 
"  I'm  afraid  your  horse  is  ruined.  She  is  very  lame, 
her  shoulder  is  sprained,  and  she  is  all  used  up." 
With^a  spasm  of  pain  at  her  heart,  the  young  girl  hurried 
out  to  the  stables. 

"  Peyton  1 "  she  called,  as  she  entered  the  stable  door, 
"  where  is  she  ?  quick,  I  must  see  her." 

Peyton  guided  his  mistress  to  the  stable  where  Dolly 
was  standing  before  a  full  manger. 

"  She  won't  eat  nothin',  Miss  Jessie,"  he  said,  with  a 
note  of  pity  in  his  honest  voice.  He  laid  his  dark  hand 
gently  on  the  animal's  mane,  and  began  to  smooth  out 
the  tangles.  The  excited  girl  pushed  by  him,  approached 
the  wounded  creature,  put  both  arms  around  her  neck, 
and  laid  her  own  fair  cheek  against  the  glossy  head. 

"  Dolly !  my  poor,  dear  Dolly !  "  she  moaned ;  "you 
cannot  even  tell  me  where  the  pain  is  and  so  I  can  do 
nothing  for  you."  The  horse  shivered  as  if  in  agony, 
and  stretching  out  her  neck,  uttered  a  faint  whinny.  "  I 
am  sure  you  know  I  love  you,  dear,"  she  said,  tenderly ; 
"  it  breaks  my  heart  to  know  that  you  are  suffering. 
Oh  !  do  not  die,  dear,  dear  Dolly.  Eat  just  a  little  for 
me,  and  I'm  sure  you  will  feel  better."  But  the  horse 
turned  from  the  measure  of  oats  which  Peyton  held  out 
to  her  and  the  shivers  grew  more  frequent  and  violent. 

"  Perhaps  she  will  drink,  Peyton,"  said  the  young 
girl.  Some  water  was  quickly  brought,  and  Dolly  buried 


REDBANK.  87 

her  nose  deep  in  the  bucket,  and  drank  long  draughts 
as  if  consumed  by  some  inward  fever. 

"  Can't  you  do  something  for  her,  Peyton  ?  "  The 
wail  of  those  words  went  straight  to  the  negro's  heart. 

"  Miss  Jessie,"  he  replied,  "  I  think  she's  had  a  fall ; 
look  here,  both  her  knees  is  skinned,  an'  I  think  she's 
hurt  inside.  I'se  a  gwine  to  wash  off  her  knees  with 
arniky,  an'  de  Colonel  he  has  jes'  ordered  a  drench  fur 
her.  I'll  do  what  I  ken  fur  her  you  may  be  sure; 
but  I'se  mightily  afeard  dat  'tis  all  over  wid  her." 

Jessie  felt  that  she  could  do  nothing  for  the  poor 
suffering  creature,  and  so  she  turned  and  left  the  stables. 
She  went  to  her  room,  and  threw  herself  upon  the  bed 
in  an  agony  that  convulsed  her  slight  form.  Burying 
her  face  in  her  hands  she  exclaimed,  again  and  again, 
"  How  could  he  do  it !  How  could  he  do  it !  The  only 
creature  on  earth  that  was  wholly  mine.  Oh,  Harry,  how 
could  you  be  so  cruel,  when  you  knew  how  much  I  loved 
her?" 

While  she  lay  there,  the  minutes  were  like  years. 
She  seemed  to  grow  old  under  the  intense  strain  of  grief. 
At  length,  her  emotion  spent  itself  and  she  grew  calm, 
seeming  to  contemplate  her  suffering  at  a  distance,  as 
we  do  after  years  have  passed  away  and  blunted  tin 
keenness  of  pain.  When  the  breakfast-bell  rang,  she  gf  j 
up  mechanically,  smoothed  out  her  dress,  bathed  her  face 
and  went  down  to  the  dining-room.  Harry  came  in  ;ust 
before  the  meal  was  over,  looking  very  old  and  wrenched 
and  red-eyed,  but  wearing  his  accustomed  noncTi  dance 
of  manner.  The  family  greeted  him  coldly  as  he  seated 
himself  in  their  midst — all  but  Lilian  ;  she  spraj  g  from 
her  chair,  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck,  a i,d kissed 
him  again  and  again.  "  I'm  so  glad  you've  c-jmeback, 
Uncle  Hal !  "  she  exclaimed. 


88  KEDBANK. 

Colonel  Winston,  after  a  while,  looked  up  at  him 
with  stern  displeasure  in  his  face  and  voice,  and  said, 
"  I  would  like  to  know  what  you  have  been  doing  with 
your  sister's  horse  ?  " 

"  Why,  riding  her,  of  course,"  was  the  answer,  given 
in  a  hard  and  careless  tone ;  "  horses  were  made  to  ride, 
were  they  not  ?  Or  were  they  only  made  to  be  petted  by 
young  ladies,  and  fed  with  lumps  of  sugar  ?  " 

"  I  am  astonished  beyond  measure,"  exclaimed  the 
Colonel,  "  that  you  should  take  your  sister's  horse  out 
of  my  stable  without  her  permission,  and  after  a  week's 
absence,  return  with  the  animal  lamed  and  ruined." 

"  I  did  not  know  that  any  act  of  mine  could  astonish 
you,"  said  the  young  man,  with  perfect  indifference  ; 
"  I  think  I  have  heard  you  make  such  an  assertion  more 
than  once." 

It  was  evident  that  nothing  could  be  gained  by  words, 
so  all  were  silent.  After  the  meal  was  ended,  as  Jessie 
was  going  to  her  room,  her  brother  stopped  her  in  the 
hall,  and  said,  "  Forgive  me,  Jessie ;  I'm  awfully  sorry, 
but  upon  my  honor  I  don't  know  how  it  happened." 

She  was  about  to  turn  away  from  him,  feeling  herself 
unfit  to  make  any  reply,  when  she  caught  an  expression 
of  intense  pain  upon  his  face.  In  a  moment  her  heart  was 
touched — "  What  is  it,  Harry  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Is  any 
thing  the  matter  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  bitterness,  "I'm  afraid 
the  devil  has  got  me  for  good  now." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  she  said,  frightened  by  his 
strange  manner. 

"  If  you  cannot  guess,  I  shall  not  tell  you  ;  only  I  feel 
as  if  I  could  ride  every  horse  in  the  stable  to  death." 

"  Oh !  Harry  !  you  have  been  drinking,"  she  cried, 
wounded  beyond  measure  to  think  that  he  had  fallen  so 


REDRANK.  89 

low  as  to  appear  before  the  family  in  such  a  condition. 
Was  his  self-respect  indeed  all  gone  ? 

"  Of  course  I  have,"  he  exclaimed,  looking  at  her 
defiantly. 

"  How  could  you  !  How  could  you  !  "  she  said,  approach 
ing  him,  and  laying  her  hand  lovingly  upon  his  arm. 
"  Do  go  up  to  your  room  and  lie  down,  dear.  You  look 
so  tired  and  worn-out." 

"  So  I  am,  but  I  cannot  rest,"  he  answered,  in  a  hoarse 
tone.  "  I'll  get  my  gun,  and  go  out  into  the  woods." 

"  Harry,  do  tell  me  what  is  the  matter  with  you," 
she  begged  piteously. 

"  Go  and  ask  Alice  Brooks,"  he  replied  bitterly,  his 
blood-shot  eyes  flashing  with  anger. 

Jessie  stood  still  and  looked  at  him  tenderly,  while 
tears  of  sympathy  gathered  upon  her  lashes.  This, 
then,  was  the  end  of  love's  young  dream.  After  all,  he 
did  care  enough  for  Alice  to  become  desperate  and  be 
ready  to  throw  away  his  life  when  she  rejected  him. 

"  I  know  she  loves  me,"  he  said  after  a  moment ;  "  but 
it  is  her  mother  and  that  meddling  old  Judge.  They 
have  told  her  something  about  me  that  has  hardened 
her  heart." 

"  I  am  so  very  sorry  for  you,  dear,"  Jessie  whispered. 
"  I  did  hope  it  would  be  different."  He  turned  away 
as  if  to  escape  from  her  sympathy.  Soon  afterwards 
she  heard  him  calling  the  dogs,  and,  looking  out,  saw 
him  going  down  the  red  lane  with  his  gun  upon  his 
shoulder. 

For  some  days,  poor  Dolly  continued  to  grow  worse. 
She  lay  down  and  they  could  not  get  her  up  again  ;  she 
seemed  to  have  no  strength  to  stand.  The  faithful  Pey 
ton  used  every  remedy  within  his  reach,  and  nursed  her 
with  self-forgetful  devotion,  but  all  in  vain. 


90  REDBANE. 

At  last  one  morning,  the  news  was  brought  to  the 
house  that  Dolly  was  dead.  Peyton  came  himself  to 
tell  his  young  mistress.  "  I  done  all  I  could  to  save 
her,  Miss  Jessie,"  he  said. 

The  girl  put  out  her  white  hand — "  I  know  you  did, 
Peyton,"  she  answered,  "  and  I  thank  you  with  all  my 
heart.  I  shall  never  forget  your  kindness."  She  did 
not  know  that  the  touch  of  her  soft  hand,  more  than 
repaid  the  negro  for  days  and  nights  of  watching  over 
the  dying  horse.  Peyton  had  a  worshipful  feeling  for 
his  young  mistress,  such  as  we  give  to  the  saints  and 
angels  whose  dwelling-place  is  in  the  remote  heavens. 

Jessie  grieved  silently.  The  loss  of  Dolly  revived 
the  keenest  sorrow  of  her  life.  She  lived  over  those 
terrible  days  that  followed  the  death  of  Richard,  her 
oldest  brother.  She  remembered  the  home-coming  of 
the  soldier's  horse,  saddled  and  bridled,  but  without  a 
rider.  She  saw  again  the  long  procession,  the  hearse 
with  its  awful  trappings,  and  the  beautiful  black  charger 
walking  behind  with  solemn  tread.  She  heard  the  rat 
tle  of  the  sabres  and  empty  pistols  that  hung  at  the  sad 
dle-bow.  Night  after  night,  she  laid  her  hands  upon  her 
burning  eyes  to  shut  out  this  vision,  which  robbed  her 
of  sleep,  and  left  her  unrefreshed  when  morning  came. 
Richard  had  been  her  ideal  of  all  that  was  manly  and 
noble — the  chevalier  sans  peur  et  sans  reproche.  Even 
now  she  had  no  other  standard  by  which  to  measure 
manhood.  It  was  ft  perpetual  grief  to  her  that  Harry 
should  fall  so  far  below  this  splendid  type. 

The  loss  of  her  horse  made  a  great  change  in  Jessie's 
habits.  Henceforth  there  were  no  more  delightful  gal 
lops  through  the  green  woods,  and,  without  this  health 
ful  exercise,  this  pleasant  variety,  the  days  were  dull 
and  dreary.  Her  cheerfulness  became  less  spontaneous 


REDBANK.  91 

and  her  step  less  light.  Eveiy  one  was  too  busy  to 
notice  the  change.  At  last,  one  morning,  Mrs.  Winston 
was  shocked  beyond  measure  to  find  her  sister  prostrated 
with  a  burning  fever.  Jessie  had  felt  it  coming ;  for 
many  days  the  weariness  and  listlessness  had  been  in 
creasing,  but  she  had  struggled  silently  against  it. 
Malaria  had  chosen  her  for  its  first  victim. 

With  all  the  outward  attractions  of  Redbank,  it  was 
not  healthy  in  summer.  Situated  not  far  from  a  large 
river,  with  brooks  and  creeks  flowing  sluggishly  across 
its  fields  in  every  direction,  and  swamps  encircling  it  on 
three  sides,  there  was  always  more  or  less  fever  among 
its  inhabitants  during  the  warm  months.  This  year  the 
spring  had  been  unusually  early,  and,  by  the  middle  of 
June,  the  thermometer  had  mounted  to  the  nineties. 
The  heat  was  somewhat  relieved  by  continual  showers, 
but  the  freshness  imparted  to  the  air  was  only  tempo 
rary.  This  weather  was  just  the  thing  for  the  cotton, 
which  grew  with  marvellous  rapidity,  but  it  was  very 
far  from  being  favorable  for  humanity. 

Jessie's  sickness  was  not  of  long  continuance  ;  within 
a  week  it  had  yielded  to  the  powerful  influence  of  qui 
nine,  but  a  shadow  had  fallen  over  the  whole  household. 
Other  members  of  the  family  fell  ill  in  quick  succession, 
and  there  were  several  deaths  among  the  negroes.  In 
the  midst  of  this  general  depression,  Harry  disappeared 
in  his  usual  mysterious  fashion.  He  left  without  say 
ing  good-bye  to  any  one,  or  even  informing  Jessie  where 
he  was  going,  or  when  he  expected  to  return.  She  was 
accustomed  to  his  careless  ways,  and  yet  such  conduct 
always  wounded  her. 

Many  of  the  neighbors  on  the  adjoining  plantations 
had  also  taken  their  flight  to  cooler  regions.  Through 
June,  July,  and  half  of  August,  the  long  hot  days  fol- 


92  REDBANK. 

lowed  each  other  with  wearisome  monotony.  When 
evening  came,  and  the  sun  went  down  behind  the  dis 
tant  pines,  proclaiming  the  approach  of  night-fall,  a 
prayer  of  thanksgiving  for  the  darkness  ascended  from 
many  a  heart  in  that  fair  Southern  land. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Through  every  web  of  life  the  dark  threads  run  ;  Oh!  why  and 
whither  ?    God  knows  all.     I  only  know  that  He  is  good." — Whittier. 

LILIAN  was  very  ill.  Even  Mrs.  Winston,  who  sel 
dom  allowed  herself  to  show  any  anxiety  about  anything, 
was  now  alarmed,  and  bent  over  the  little  sufferer  with 
deep  solicitude.  It  was  a  hot  evening  in  July;  the 
light  from  a  full  moon,  shining  in  a  cloudless  sky, 
poured  into  the  room.  The  muslin  curtains  were  parted 
to  admit  this  radiance,  which  fell  in  floods  upon  the 
floor,  casting  shadows  of  the  oak  leaves  that  hung  mo- 
•  tionless  outside  near  the  closed  windows.  Even  in  this 
sultry  weather,  the  windows  could  not  be  left  open  at 
night,  for  miasma  entered  like  some  stealthy  creature  in 
search  of  prey. 

Mrs.  Winston  was  seated  near  the  bed  where  the  sick 
child  lay,  fanning  and  soothing  her  as  she  tossed  rest 
lessly  from  side  to  side.  There  was  no  lamp  in  the 
room — only  the  moonlight.  Jessie  entered  softly,  look 
ing  almost  unearthly  in  her  long  white  dressing-gown, 
her  dark  hair  unbound  and  falling  over  her  shoulders. 
She  approached  the  bedside  noiselessly,  and  said  in  a 
low  tone — "Do  let  me  relieve  you  now.  I  am  quite 
rested."  "  No,"  was  the  answer ;  "  but  come  and  sit 
down  beside  me  and  comfort  me,  dear."  They  both 


94  REDBANK, 

moved  away  from  the  bed.  The  child  seemed  at  last  to 
be  sleeping.  In  a  distant  corner  of  the  room,  away  from 
the  glorious  moonlight,  they  seated  themselves  side  by 
side  upon  a  lounge.  Jessie  put  her  arm  around  her 
sister,  and  whispered — "  Poor  tired  darling  !  go  to  bed, 
and  I  will  watch  over  Lilian.  If  there  is  the  slight 
est  change,  I  will  call  you  immediately.  It  is  killing 
you,  dear, — the  watching  night  after  night,  and  the 
terrible  anxiety.  You  must  rest,  or  you  will  be  ill 
yourself." 

Mrs.  Winston  grasped  her  sister's  hand,  and  with  a 
low  half-suppressed  sob  exclaimed,  "  Oh !  Jessie,  I  am 
so  unhappy,  dear.  I  feel  as  if  something  dreadful  were 
going  to  happen,  and  as  if  somehow  I  were  to  blame  for 
it.  I  know  my  darling  is  going  to  die,  and  I  cannot 
bear  it — I  cannot  bear  it.  My  heart  will  break." 

"  Hush,  dear,"  said  Jessie,  "  you  must  not  say  that. 
It  is  because  you  are  tired  that  you  feel  so." 

"Yes,"  she  answered,  wearily,  "I  am  tired  of  every 
thing,  but  most  of  all  I  am  tired  of  life.  It  is  such  a 
hopeless  puzzle — I  am  weary  of  trying  to  make  anything 
out  of  it." 

"  I  know  how  you  feel,  dear,"  said  Jessie,  "  but  you 
must  not  lose  heart.  There  is  surely  some  meaning  to 
it  all." 

" Perhaps"  she  replied ;  "  only  I  fear  that  I  shall 
never  find  it.  I  do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with 
me,  but  somehow  I  lack  interest  in  whatever  I  do.  I 
go  through  my  daily  tasks  like  a  machine  ;  my  very 
heart  seems  freezing  within  me.  If  I  could  only  get 
rid  of  this  dreadful  feeling.  Sometimes  it  seems  as  if  I 
were  dead  even  now." 

Jessie  could  say  nothing  to  this  sad  confession.  Mrs. 
Winston  continued — 


95 

"  the  Colonel's  faults  weigh  upon  me  so — his  petty 
exactions,  his  frequent  ill-temper,  is  almost  unbearable. 
If  I  could  only  run  away  from  it  all !  but  that's  the 
point — I  cannot — I  must  stay  right  here  and  endure  it 
in  silence.  If  I  were  only  single  like  you  !  If  there 
were  no  chains  around  me,  binding  me  hopelessly  to 
others  !  "  Again  she  sobbed  as  if  her  heart  were  break 
ing.  "  Jessie,"  she  exclaimed,  suddenly,  "  never,  never 
marry  unless  you  love  the  man  well  enough  to  bear  all 
things  for  his  sake.  Then  you  will  not  feel  the  terrible 
weight  of  the  yoke.  I  am  glad  that  you  did  not  accept 
the  Judge.  In  a  worldly  point  of  view,  it  would  have 
been  a  fine  thing  for  you ;  but  it  is  a  mistake  for  a  young 
girl  to  be  mated  to  an  old  man — nothing  but  trouble 
comes  of  it.  And  yet  I  thought  you  liked  him,  and 
would  probably  marry  him." 

"  I  do  like  him  very  much,"  said  Jessie,  "  and  I  realize 
all  the  advantages  of  the  position  he  would  give  me. 
But  I  cannot  marry  him.  I  cannot  get  rid  of  the  feeling 
that  he  wants  me,  like  a  bit  of  statuary  or  a  picture,  just 
to  fill  a  vacancy  in  his  elegant  home,  and  the  thought 
of  being  bought  like  a  piece  of  merchandise  is  horrible 
to  me." 

"  But,  dear,  he  loves  you  truly — it  is  easy  to  see  that." 

"Yes,  as  a  father  loves  a  daughter.  I  can  and  do 
respond  to  that  affection.  But,  Nell,  that  is  not  what 
marriage  means.  We  are  told  that  the  woman  was 
given  to  the  man  for  a  help-mate.  How  could  I  ever 
help  him  ?  He  is  heights  above  me  ;  he  needs  no  help 
from  any  one — he  is  so  strong  and  proud  and  wise  and 
good.  Eleanor,  I  could  not  bear  to  stand  like  a  dummy 
and  be  loaded  with  costly  presents.  It  would  dwarf 
my  own  soul.  I  must  be  something  more  than  that  to 
the  man  I  marry." 


96  REDBACK. 

"  What  Would  you  be  ?  "  asked  Eleanor. 

"  I  do  not  know ;  but  I  have  a  vague  feeling  that  a 
wife  should  be  a  perpetual  inspiration  to  her  husband, 
helping  him  in  all  noble  purposes,  strengthening  him 
Avhen  his  faith  is  weak.  I  have  been  reading  about 
Vittoria  Colonna.  She  was  a  grand  woman.  Even  her 
friendship  was  an  inspiration  to  Michael  Angelo." 

"  Yes,  dear,  but  there  are  few  women  like  her  in  the 
world." 

"  There  ought  to  be  more,"  said  the  young  girl ;  "  I 
wish  that  women  did  not  care  for  such  paltry  things." 

"  You  are  right,  Jessie  ;  most  of  them  will  sell  them 
selves  for  a  velvet  gown  or  a  diamond  necklace.  They 
do  not  yet  know  their  own  value." 

"  A  woman  should  love  the  best  and  holiest  things 
on  earth,"  said  the  girl ;  "  she  should  keep  her  heart  '  as 
chaste  as  ice,  as  pure  as  snow.'  She  should  not  dare  to 
marry  until  she  loves  with -her  whole  soul." 

"  But  if  she  loves  unwisely  ?  "  asked  Eleanor,  "  what 
then?" 

"  If  it  be  love,  who  shall  say  that  it  is  unwise  ?  Let 
her  trust  her  own  heart  and  God,"  answered  Jessie  in  a 
solemn  tone.  She  thought  of  Alice  Brooks,  and  her 
words  were  a  plea  for  her  brother. 

"  I  believe  you  are  right,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  "  but 
the  world  seems  to  have  outgrown  such  old-fashioned 
notions.  I  will  tell  you  a  bit  of  my  own  history,  dear. 
When  I  was  very  young,  I  loved,  or  rather  I  felt  the 
first  stirrings  of  a  mighty  love,  but  I  crushed  its  growth 
because  the  man  was  poor.  He  went  to  California,  for 
it  was  when  the  gold-fever  was  raging.  He  went  to 
make  a  fortune  for  me,  and  there  he  died.  I  can  never 
tell  you  how  I  suffered  when  I  heard  that  he  was  dead. 
I  did  not  realize  until  then  how  strong  was  the  feeling- 


REDBANK.  97 

I  had  been  struggling  to  crush.  It  has  lived  on  ever 
since  ;  like  a  limb  bruised  and  maimed  long  ago,  there 
are  still  times  when  the  scars  ache.  I  often  feel  that 
I  would  have  been  a  different  woman  if  I  had  married 
him.  He  was  full  of  tender  and  poetic  sentiment.  I 
could  have  given  the  practical  element  to  the  union, 
and  we  would  have  been  very  happy  together,  and  per 
haps  successful.  Colonel  Winston  has  not  been  really 
unkind,  but  I  know  that  I  have  been  suffering  from  a 
hardening  process  ever  since  I  married  him.  My  true 
mate  was  lost  to  me  by  my  own  fault.  I  was  not  worthy 
of  him."  Tears  glistened  on  her  lashes  as  she  spoke. 
Jessie  reached  out  for  her  sister's  hand,  and  clasped  it 
in  her  own. 

"  Did  father  know  anything  about  it?  "  she  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Eleanor,  "  father  was  ambitious  for  me, 
and  I  never  dared  to  tell  him.  The  man  I  loved  was 
quite  outside  our  set.  He  was  the  tutor  in  the  family 
of  one  of  our  neighbors.  I  was  very  intimate  with  the 
young  girls  of  the  family,  and  used  to  meet  him  in  an 
informal  way.  He  always  assisted  us  in  getting  up  our 
charades,  and  tableaux,  and  fancy-balls,  for  he  was 
very  clever,  and  knew  everything  about  history,  and 
historical  costumes.  He  was 'a  Northern  man.  Ever 
since  those  days,  I  have  had  a  tender  spot  in  my  heart 
for  New  England.  He  was  finely  educated  and  full 
of  talent,  but  bashful  and  ill-at-ease  in  the  aristocratic 
society  of  Virginia.  He  never  showed  to  advantage, 
— no  one  but  myself  knew  how  much  there  was  in  him. 
I  was  just  the  wife  for  him — I  can  see  it  plainly  now. 
If  I  had  only  put  my  hand  in  his, .  it  would  have  in 
spired  him  with  hope  and  confidence.  I  was  the  belle 
of  the  neighborhood,  a  bold,  dashing  girl  who  would 
have  infused  her  own  proud  spirit  into  her  husband. 


98  REDBANK. 

He  was  very  timid  in  pleading  his  suit ;  lie  felt  his 
poverty,  and  he  knew  my  pride.  I  was  tender  and 
haughty  by  turns,  enjoying  my  power  over  him.  I 
knew  that  he  was  really  worth  more  than  any  of  the 
young  men  in  the  county,  but  I  could  not  resist  the 
girlish  impulse  to  trifle  with  his  love.  One  night  at 
a  party,  he  told  me  that  he  was  thinking  of  going  to 
California  to  make  his  fortune.  He  asked  me  with  a 
searching  look  if  he  should  go.  I  answered  with  em 
phasis — '  Yes ;  if  I  were  a  man,  I  would  go  myself.' 
Soon  I  went  off  to  dance  with  some  one  else,  and  forgot 
all  about  it.  The  next  day,  I  left  home  to  visit  a  friend 
in  Richmond,  when  I  returned,  he  was  gone.  He 
wrote  me  one  long,  passionate  letter  before  he  sailed 
around  the  Horn  for  California.  I  could  not  reply  to 
it,  for  I  had  no  address.  A  year  afterwards  I  heard  of 
his  death.  A  paper  was  sent  to  me  from  the  North  ; 
by  whom,  I  never  knew.  I  realized  then,  that  I  could 
never  love  any  one  else.  I  felt  too  desperate  to  care 
what  became  of  me.  In  less  than  another  year,  I  was 
the  wife  of  Colonel  Winston.  I  accepted  him  because 
my  father  wished  me  to,  and  because  it  seemed  to  offer 
some  escape  from  my  aimless,  wretched  life.  It  was 
wrong,  and  I  have  been  punished  for  it.  Jessie,  I  have 
never  told  this  to  any  one  before.  I  would  like  to 
save  you  from  making  such  a  mistake  as  I  have  made. 
Be  true  to  your  own  heart,  even  if  the  whole  world 
condemns  you." 

The  young  girl  was  deeply  moved,  and  only  pressed 
the  hand  of  her  sister  in  silence.  After  this  they  could 
talk  no  more ;  the  emotion  of  both  was  overpowering. 
The  sick  child  stirred  and  moaned  in  her  sleep.  Mrs. 
Winston  went  to  the  bed  and  felt  the  hot  hands  and 
head ;  then  she  poured  out  some  medicine,  and  gave  it 


EEDBANK.  98 

to  the  little  sufferer.  She  sighed  deeply  as  she  resumed 
her  seat.  Her  heart  was  heavy  with  anxiety  and  sor 
row.  Presently,  she  went  to  the  window  and  looked 
out ;  but  there  was  no  comfort  in  the  beauty  of  the 
world. 

"  Eleanor,"  said  Jessie,  "  I  do  wish  you  would  con 
sent  to  go  to  bed.  Your  face  is  perfectly  haggard.  I 
will  sit  up  the  rest  of  the  night,  and  watch  beside 
Lilian." 

"  No,"  Eleanor  replied,  "  I  could  not  sleep.  I  feel 
too  nervous  and  excited.  There  may  be  some  change 
about  midnight,  and  I  cannot  bear  to  leave  my  darling 
for  a  single  moment.  It  seems  as  if  she  were  slipping 
away  from  me,  and  I  were  reaching  out  my  arms  in 
vain  to  hold  her.  Oh !  Jessie,  motherhood  is  full  of 
bitterness  as  well  as  joy.  To  think  that  she  is  a  part 
of  my  very  self,  and  yet  I  cannot  suffer  for  her.  If  she 
dies,  I  know  I  shall  not  be  able  to  live  without  her." 

"  She  will  not  die,"  said  the  young  girl,  with  quiet 
confidence. 

"  How  can  you  know  !  "  exclaimed  the  mother  im 
patiently;  "  you  must  not  cheat  me  with  such  promises." 

"  Eleanor,"  said  Jessie,  "  God  is  good.  He  is  Our 
Father — He  loves  us.  In  moments  of  agony,  I  have 
learned  to  cling  desperately  to  this  simple  creed." 

"  You  are  better  than  I  am,"  replied  Mrs.  Winston, 
"  there  is  nothing  I  doubt  more  than  the  love  of  God 
for  us  poor  mortals.  To  me  He  seems  a  cruel  tryant. 
Only  count  the  little  graves  out  yonder  in  the  corner 
of  tiie  garden — there  are  four  of  them,  side  by  side. 
Why  did  God  give  me  those  children,  just  to  take  them 
away  as  soon  as  I  had  learned  to  love  them  ?  " 

"  We  cannot  tell  why  such  things  happen,  but  still 
we  must  believe.  There  is  no  other  hope  for  us." 


100  EEDBANK. 

Mrs.  Winston  shook  her  head  sadly.  "  I  used  to  have 
a  little  bit  of  superficial  religion,"  she  said,  "but  I  have 
lung  it  away  long  ago — it  was  of  no  account.  I  really 
riate  to  go  to  church  now — to  bend  and  bow  and  call 
on  the  good  Lord,  when  I  don't  believe  at  all  that  He 
is  good." 

Jessie  felt  shocked  to  hear  her  sister  speak  thus,  but 
she  only  answered — "  Please  do  not  talk  so,  Eleanor. 
He  will  hear  you — He  seems  so  near  to-night." 

She  was  thinking  of  the  awful  midnight  stillness,  the 
almost  unnatural  glory  of  the  moonlight  outside,  and 
the  Angel  of  Death  bending  over  the  sick  child.  She 
could  not  talk — she  laid  her  tired  head  against  the  corner 
of  the  lounge.  Eleanor's  words  filled  her  with  horror. 
They  revealed  a  desolation  of  soul  such  as  she  had 
never  before  seen — a  waste  place  filled  with  ruins.  In 
the  silence  she  began  to  pray.  She  did  not  fall  on  her 
knees — she  did  not  even  clasp  her  hands  ;  but  her  lips 
moved  unconsciously  without  the  utterance  of  a  sound, 
while  she  pleaded  for  her  sister. 

The  hours  were  slowly  passing.  The  distant  clock 
struck  again  and  again.  Still  Lilian  slept ;  her  breath 
ing  seemed  to  be  growing  fainter  and  fainter.  Nothing 
more  could  be  done.  Human  wisdom  was  of  no  avail 
now.  A  soul  was  drifting  out  alone  upon  a  dim  and 
shoreless  sea.  The  awful  mystery  of  Death  filled  the 
room  like  a  great  shadow.  The  sisters  sat  silent,  and 
motionless,  awaiting  the  final  moan.  Gradually  they 
were  overpowered  by  utter  weariness  and  the  sultry 
atmosphere  of  the  night.  They,  too,  were  drifting  away 
from  the  visible  world  into  a  land  as  mysterious  as 
Death.  They  both  fell  asleep. 

Suddenly,  Jessie  opened  her  eyes  and  sprung  from  her 
seat.  The  day  was  breaking.  The  sky  was  all  aglow 


REDBAXK.  101 

with  the  splendor  of  the  rising  sun.  She  went  softly  to 
the  bed  and  bent  over  the  pillows.  Then  she  uttered  a 
low  cry. 

"  Wake  up,  Eleanor  !  wake  up  !  "  The  words  came 
with  a  great  sob.  There  is  an  agony  of  joy  as  well  as 
of  sorrow.  "  Lilian  is  better,  dear.  She  is  much  better. 
Only  see  the  moisture  on  her  face  and  hands.  The 
fever  has  left  her.  She  is  not  going  to  die.  God  is 
good  !  " 

Mrs.  Winston  fell  almost  helpless  upon  the  bed  beside 
her  child,  whose  eyes  were  wide  open  and  full  of  intel 
ligence. 

"  Yes,"  the  mother  whispered  faintly,  "  God  is  better 
than  I  thought." 

Jessie  was  dispirited  and  heartsore.  The  long  weeks 
of  Lilian's  convalescence  had  taxed  her  strength  almost 
beyond  endurance.  Eleanor  was  too  weak  and  worn 
out  to  share  in  this  task.  The  child  had  been  very  fret 
ful — calling  continually  for  Uncle  Hal,  asking  again  and 
again  where  he  was,  why  he  had  gone  away,  and  when 
he  was  going  to  return.  He  alone  could  tell  her  stories 
that  she  liked.  Jessie's  fairy  tales  were  very  insipid  to 
her.  What  did  she  care  about  two  kings  that  went  to 
war  over  a  princess  with  long  golden  hair,  or  about  a 
magician  who,  by  his  incantations,  made  the  earth  open 
and  reveal  its  treasures  ?  "  I  do  not  like  that  story," 
the  child  would  often  say ;  "  tell  me  about  the  little 
dwarf  with  the  big  spectacles  on  his  nose." 

"  But,  dear,  I  do  not  know  that  one,"  the  patient  girl 
would  reply.  Then  Lilian  would  call  for  Uncle  Hal  to 
lift  her  from  the  bed  to  the  sofa,  or  to  carry  her  down  to 
the  piazza  and  swing  her  in  the  hammock,  and  sob  as  if 
her  heart  would  break  because  he  did  not  come.  Jessie 


102  REDtiANK. 

felt  equally  at  a  loss  how  to  comfort  and  amuse  the 
child,  and  how  to  bear  the  daily  weariness  of  such  a  life. 
She  longed  for  some  escape.  If  something  would  only 
happen  !  If  somebody  would  only  come ! 

One  afternoon,  late  in  August,  when  there  was  a  little 
coolness  in  the  air,  she  put  on  her  hat  and  left  the  house 
for  a  walk.  Lilian  was  asleep  in  the  care  of  Lizzie,  and 
would  not  miss  her  for  a  while.  A  desperate  impulse 
had  come  over  the  young  girl  to  fly  from  everything — 
to  go  on  and  on  and  on,  until  the  fever  of  impatience 
and  longing  within  her  had  consumed  itself.  As  she 
crossed  the  back  yard  she  called  Tiger  to  accompany  her. 
He  was  a  fine  English  mastiff,  and  would  be  a  fitting 
escort  for  a  solitary  maiden.  She  had  long  ago  won 
his  savage  heart  by  her  kindness,  and  he  came  bound 
ing  over  the  grass  to  join  her.  With  a  quick  step  she 
went  down  the  red  lane.  The  little  brook  was  now 
entirely  dry,  and  she  walked  over  the  pebbly  bed,  stop 
ping  to  pick  a  sickly  flower  that  was  growing  on  the  other 
side.  When  she  came  to  the  Quarter,  she  paused  a  few 
moments  to  speak  to  the  women  and  children  who  were 
sitting  under  the  trees.  There  was  Aunt  Nancy,  fat 
and  placid,  seated  011  a  low  stool,  dozing  in  the  afternoon 
sun  ;  there  was  Aunt  Harriet,  with  a  piece  of  knitting 
work  in  her  hands,  walking  up  and  down  her  little 
garden  patch,  driving  out  an  invasion  of  pigs  and 
chickens  ;  there  were  Rose  and  Hester ;  and  Dinah  with 
her  baby  in  her  arms ;  and  Rena,  the  tall  beautiful 
mulatto  girl  who  had  just  married  Big  Jake,  already  the 
father  of  ten  children.  Jessie  had  a  pleasant  word  for 
each  one  of  them.  As  she  passed  Aunt  Lucy's  house, 
a  cheery  voice  called  to  her, 

''How  d'  you  do,  Miss  Jessie?  Where's  you  gwine, 
honey?  Can't  you  stop  an' sec  UK- a  minute?"  The 


RKDltAMK.  103 

old  woman  was  sitting  near  the  open  door,  carding  as 
usual.  The  girl  did  not  enter  the  cabin,  but  seated  her 
self  outside  on  the  doorstep. 

"  'Pears  it's  a  long  time  sense  I'se  seen  you,  honey," 
said  the  negress ;  ';  de  sight  o'  yer  face  is  good  for  sore 
eyes.  I  ain't  seen  you  fur  nigh  onto  two  weeks.  Miss 
Lilian's  better,  I  knows.  You  looks  sorter  white  an' 
tired.  Is  you  well,  honey  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so,"  answered  Jessie  ;  "  and  how  are 
you,  Aunt  Lucy  ?  " 

"  Right  smart,  thank  'ee,"  replied  the  old  woman. 
41  I'se  scarcely  ever  sick,  Miss  Jessie,  an'  does  you  know 
why?" 

"  No,  tell  me,  please,"  said  Jessie. 

"  It's  all  kase  I  won't  sot  around  like  dese  tudder 
colored  folks.  Now,  ef  I'se  got  a  pain,  I  never  hopes  to 
sot  it  off — I  walks  it  off.  Up  and  down,  side  o'  dis  ole 
wheel  I  goes,  a-singin'  de  very  bes'  tune  I  can  find  in 
dis  ole  head,  an'  de  pain  it  gits  better  right  off." 

"  Perhaps  that's  a  good  plan,  Aunt  Lucy,"  said  the 
girl,  with  a  smile  ;  "I  know  it  is  not  always  well  to 
yield  to  one's  feelings." 

"  Dat's  true  as  gospil,  honey.  I  don't  b'lieve  in  a- 
humorin'  myse'f  any  more  dan  I  b'lieves  in  humorin' 
tudder  folks,  an'  dat's  not  a  speck.  Now,  when  my  gals 
says  dey's  got  de  fever,  I  jes'  gins  dem  de  cards  an'  a 
pile  o'  cotton',  sted  o'  quinine.  Dey  knows  better  dan 
to  tell  me  dey's  got  de  fever.  Haf  de  talk  'bout  de 
fever  is  lazeness,  an'  dat's  wusser  dan  all  de  fevers  in  de 
worrel,  kase  dere's  no  medicine  fur  to  cure  it — 'les  'tis  a 
hick'ry  stick," — and  Aunt  Lucy  lay  back  in  her  chair 
and  laughed  heartily.  It  was  impossible  not  to  feel 
the  contagion  of  her.  cheerfulness.  Jessie  laughed  top. 
"  Dere's  times,  I  can  tell  you,  when  a  hick'ry  stick  is 


104  REDBANK. 

rale  good  medicine  ;  you  'plies  it  to  de  back  in  de  shape 
of  a  blister,"  and  she  laughed  again. 

"  I'm  sure  you,  at  least,  never  need  such  medicine," 
said  the  girl ;  "  you  are  always  busy.  Why  do  you  work 
so  hard,  Aunt  Lucy  ?  You  are  free  now." 

"  Now  you  knows  well  'nuff,  Miss  Jessie,"  exclaimed 
the  negress,  "  dat  freedom  ain't  made  no  difference  at 
all  to  de  niggers.  Dey  talks  a  heap  'bout  freedom  as  ef 
'twas  a-gwine  to  sot  us  all  up  in  fine  houses  an'  dress 
us  up  in  caliky,  an'  put  fans  in  our  hans  ter  fan  off  de 
flies  and  skeetos  wid;  but  dat  kind  o'  talk  is  all  shucks. 
I'se  got  no  more  patience  wid  it  dan  I'se  got  wid  lazeness. 
Freedom's  jes'  gin  us  de  right  to  work  fur  ourse'f  ;  it's  not 
gin  us  de  right  to  be  lazy.  I  foun'  dat  out  purty  quick 
— I  did.  I  was  jes'  fool  'nuff,  Miss  Jessie,  to  sot  roun'  my- 
se'f  a  while ;  but  den  I  see,  plain  as  de  nose  in  a  nigger's 
face,  dat  I'se  got  no  smoke-house  full  o'  meat,  an'  ole 
Marster's  smoke-house  it  was  locked  up  arter  freedom. 
I'se  jes'  got  to  be  smarter  dan  ever  steppin'  roun',  or  dar'll 
be  no  bacon  nor  cornmeal  eder  in  dis  house.  Don't  talk 
to  me  'bout  freedom."  And  the  old  woman  gave  a  con 
temptuous  grunt. 

"  But  you  are  glad  to  be  free,  Aunt  Lucy,  are  you 
not  ?  "  asked  the  girl. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Jessie,  I  is ;  it  makes  me  sorter  proud  to 
feel  dat  I  b'longs  to  myse'f,  an'  dat  nobody  ken  tuck  up 
my  chillen  an'  carry  dem  off  an'  sell  'em.  But  den 
I'se  allus  had  a  good  mars  ter,  an'  I'se  not  agwine  to  cuss 
him  now  I'se  free.  Ole  Marster's  gin  me  'nuff  ter  eat 
all  my  life,  an'  good  clo'es  to  wear — better  'n  I'se  got 
now  to  save  my  soul.  No,  I'se  yit  to  see  what  freedom's 
done  so  much  fur  de  niggers.  P'raps  you  can  tell  me, 
Miss  Jessie,"  said  Aunt  Lucy,  looking  at  the  young  lady 
with  her  small  keen  eves. 


REDBANK.  105 

"  You  may  never  see  the  difference,  Aunt  Lucy,"  Jessie 
answered,  "  but  your  children  and  grandchildren  prob 
ably  will.  The  negroes  are  now  free  to  make  what 
they  can  of  themselves.  They  can  learn  to  read  and 
write,  and,  if  they  are  industrious,  they  can  save  money 
and  buy  land  for  themselves,  and  get  comfortable  homes. 
But  these  things  cannot  be  gained  without  hard  work." 

"  Jes'  what  I  says  !  "  exclaimed  the  old  woman  ;  "  ef 
I'se  free,  I'se  got  to  work  all  de  harder,  an'  I  specks  to 
go  on  cardin'  an'  spinnin'  all  de  same  till  I  dies.  But, 
Miss  Jessie,  offen  I'se  full  o'  doubt  'bout  de  time  when 
I  gits  too  ole  to  spin.  Who's  gwine  to  look  arter  me 
den?  Reuben  he'll  chaw  all  de  same,  an'  never  hab  no 
money  to  buy  nothin'  but  'bacco.  Dat's  de  question, 
honey,  dat  offen  bothers  me." 

"  Take  no  thought  for  the  morrow,  Aunt  Lucy ;  do 
your  duty  now  and  leave  the  future  alone." 

"  I  know  dat's  gospil  truf,  Miss  Jessie,  an'  the  Lord 
allus  looks  arter  his'n ;  but  all  de  same,  He  specks  us 
to  step  roun'  purty  spry  fur  ourse'f .  Brudder  Jerry,  he 
says  so.  He  prays  loud  an'  strong,  but  he  hoes  de  cotton 
an'  de  corn  all  de  same." 

"  That's  very  true,  Aunt  Lucy,  but  after  we  have  done 
our  best  we  must  not  worry  about  what  is  going  to 
happen.  I  am  sure  Colonel  Winston  will  never  let  you 
suffer  in  your  old  age." 

"  I  knows  dat,  an'  I  only  hopes  ole  Marster  may  live 
jes'  as  long  as  I  does." 

Jessie  made  no  reply  ;  she  did  not  feel  like  talking, 
and  left  the  old  woman  to  continue  the  conversation. 
Presently  Aunt  Lucy  looked  up  and  said,  sharply : 

"  'Pears  to  me  you'se  mighty  quiet  to-day,  Miss  Jessie. 
You  looks  tired  an'  whiter  dan  I  likes  to  see  you. 
What's  de  matter,  honey  ?  " 


100  ttEDEANK. 

"  I  am  tired,  Aunt  Lucy — veiy  tired.  I  came  out  for 
a  walk,  hoping  the  fresh  air  and  the  exercise  would  rest 
me.  I  must  go  on  now ;  I  want  to  go  to  the  mill  this 
way  through  the  woods  and  come  back  by  the  road. 
Good-bye," — and  she  arose  from  her  seat. 

Aunt  Lucy  laid  down  the  cards  and  reached  out  her 
hard  black  hands  ;  she  took  the  soft  white  ones  between 
her  palms  and  stroked  them  tenderly.  She  loved  this 
fair  young  creature,  and  felt  a  pang  to  see  her  droop. 
"  Honey,"  she  said  in  a  tone  full  of  sympathy,  "  you  jes' 
mustn't  git  faint-hearted — 'taint  no  use.  I'se  all  feard 
you  doesn't  pray  'miff.  Now,  I  doesn't  never  stop  a 
prayin'  an'  a-singin'.  I  prays  when  I  cards,  an'  I  sings 
when  I  spins.  I  likes  de  music  o'  dis  ole  wheel — it's 
jes  as  good  as  de  piany  any  day.  De  truf  is,  I  likes  it 
better — kase  you  has  de  music  an'  de  broach  o'  cotton, 
too," — and  once  more  she  laughed  her  hearty  laugh. 
Jessie  joined  in,  and  Aunt  Lucy  seemed  delighted  to 
have  chased  the  sadness  from  that  sweet  young  face. 
"  Dat's  right — I  loves  to  hear  you  laugh ;  you  looks 
more  like  yourse'f  now.  Good-bye,  an'  don't  you  stay 
out  too  late,  honey." 

Tiger  had  been  lying  at  the  feet  of  his  young  mistress, 
watching  her  face  with  intense  interest.  When  she 
arose,  he  got  up  also,  and  wagged  his  tail  as  if  to  express 
his  readiness  to  follow  her  wherever  she  might  choose 
to  go.  She  laid  her  hand  upon  his  collar,  and  they 
started  off  again  together.  Presently  they  entered  the 
wood  and  hurried  along  the  narrow  road.  It  was  so 
sweet  and  cool  under  the  trees  that  the  tired  girl  felt 
inexpressibly  refreshed  and  almost  skimmed  the  ground. 
Broken  bits  of  sunshine  fell  through  the  thick  foliage, 
and  made  a  lovely  mottled  pathway  for  her. 

After  a  while,  she  came  to  a  bend  in  the  road,  and 


107 

through  a  long  leafy  vista  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
great  pond,  shining  in  the  sunlight.  She  heard  the  fall 
of  the  water  over  the  dam,  and  the  noisy  clatter  of  the 
wheels.  Then  she  reached  an  opening  in  the  trees,  and 
stepped  out  into  the  main  road  that  led  to  Redbank. 
She  crossed  the  bridge  over  the  mill-stream,  lingering 
to  look  up  and  down  at  the  rushing  water,  now  brighten 
ing  in  the  sunshine,  now  darkening  in  the  shadow,  and 
ever  hurrying  onward  "  to  join  the  brimming  river."  On 
the  other  side,  at  the  foot  of  a  green  slope  near  the  road, 
she  found  a  convenient  stone,  and  sat  down.  From  this 
point  she  could  take  in  the  whole  scene.  She  was  very 
weary  and  needed  to  rest.  As  she  sat  there  all  kinds  of 
thoughts  were  hurrying  through  her  tired  brain.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  follow  them  as  they  came  and  went  in 
an  endless  procession.  She  could  not  help  thinking  of 
her  own  strange,  sad  life,  and  wondering  if  she  would 
ever  reach  a  goal  of  happiness,  as  some  did.  More  than 
ever  before,  she  was  beginning  to  dread  dulness  and 
monotony — to  long  for  variety  and  excitement.  Then 
she  recalled  the  words  of  the  Judge  and  found  herself 
surprised  at  the  truth  of  his  prophetic  vision.  Would 
it  have  been  better  to  have  accepted  his  offer,  and  found 
escape  in  that  manner  ?  No,  she  could  not  believe  that ; 
and  yet  the  way  which  he  had  presented  to  her  looked 
more  attractive  now  than  it  had  done  a  few  months  ago 
when  he  had  offered  himself  to  her.  She  was  beginning 
to  feel  uncertain  of  herself;  she  wondered  if  the  time 
would  ever  come  in  the  future,  when  she  would  be  so 
weary  of  everything  that,  like  Eleanor,  she  would  marry 
in  desperation.  "  Oh  !  no  !  "  she  exclaimed  aloud,  clasp 
ing  her  hands — "  anything  but  that,  I  must  be  strong — I 
must  be  true.  God  help  me  !  "  Her  passionate  words 
aroused  Tiger ;  he  looked  up  at  her  with  amazement  in 


108  HEDBANK. 

his  sleepy  eyes.  Was  her  question  addressed  to  him  ? 
She  answered  his  mute  inquiry  by  putting  her  hand  upon 
his  head  with  a  caressing  touch. 

"  Tiger,  Tiger,"  she  said,  "  be  thankful  that  you  are 
a  dog,  and  don't  have  to  study  moral  philosophy." 

She  had  been  sitting  there  a  long  time,  when  she  heard 
a  sound  that  startled  her — a  carriage  was  coming.  It 
was  useless  to  try  to  hide  from  sight,  so  she  sat  very  still 
and  waited.  Soon  the  vehicle  approached  near  enough 
for  her  to  see  a  pair  of  handsome  gray  horses  through 
the  trees.  Yes,  it  was  the  Judge.  How  strange  !  She 
was  just  thinking  about  him,  and  longing  for  his  return. 
He  saw  her  and  lifted  his  hat.  On  reaching  the  bridge, 
the  carriage  stopped  and  the  gentleman  got  out;  he 
walked  hurriedly  to  the  spot  where  she  was  sitting. 
"  How  are  you  ?  And  what  are  you  doing  in  this 
lonely  place  ?  "  he  asked,  extending  both  hands. 

"  How  surprised  I  am  to  see  you  !  I  thought  you 
were  a  thousand  miles  away,"  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  only  reached  home  a  few  days  ago.  But  come,  get 
into  the  carriage,  and  I  will  give  you  the  ride  that  I 
promised  you  once  upon  a  time.  I  am  on  my  way  to  Red- 
bank,  and  I  have  a  thousand  things  to  tell  you.  Jim," 
he  continued,  addressing  the  driver,  "  I  will  take  the 
reins.  You  can  get  out  and  walk  the  rest  of  the  way — 
it  is  not  far." 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHEN  they  were  both  seated  in  the  carriage,  he  turned 
the  horses  sharply  around,  touched  them  with  the  whip, 
and  they  dashed  rapidly  down  the  road  over  which  they 
had  just  travelled. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Not  to  Redbank  yet  awhile,"  he  answered  with  a 
smile  ;  "  I  am  not  in  such  a  hurry  to  get  there  now  that 
you  are  sitting  beside  me.  We  still  have  at  least  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  sunset,  and  it  will  do  you  good 
to  spend  it  out-of-doors." 

While  he  spoke  he  was  looking  at  her  very  intently. 
She  wore  a  simple  white  dress,  cut  away  from  the 
throat,  and  belted  at  the  waist  with  a  white  ribbon. 
She  carried  her  hat  in  her  hand;  she  had  taken  it 
off  on  account  of  the  heat.  Her  beautiful  brown 
hair  was  loosely  and  carelessly  knotted,  but  this  suited 
her  pure  pale  face  better  than  the  most  elaborate 
coiffure  would  have  done.  She  felt  a  little  unnatural  and 
constrained  under  his  intense  gaze.  She  knew  that  he 
was  noting  the  changes  in  her,  and  the  thought  made 
her  somewhat  uncomfortable. 

At  length  he  said,  as  if  half  to  himself,  "  More  than 
ever  like  the  statue  of  a  goddess." 

The  words  aroused  the  playfulness  of  her  nature,  and 


11- )  REDBANK. 

she  quickly  replied,  "  More  than  ever  like  an  Athenian 
Sage,  until  he  opens  his  mouth — and  then '' 

"  What  then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Why,  then,  one  sees  that  he  is  only  an  American 
gentleman  of  the  nineteenth  century." 

"Evidently  a  creature  to  be  despised  !  "  he  said  with 
a  smile. 

"  By  the  statue  of  a  goddess — yes  ;  by  a  young  lady  of 
the  nineteenth  century — no." 

"  Why,  what  a  sharp  wit  she  hath !  What  has  she 
been  feeding  on  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  bitter  berries  that  grow  in  these  swamps,"  she 
answered,  laughing,  "  and  they  have  puckered  up  my 
mouth." 

"  I  do  not  see  it,"  he  said. 

"  Well,  I  feel  the  bitter  taste,"  she  replied. 

"  That  will  never  do ;  a  bitter  taste  in  the  mouth 
shows  that  there  is  something  wrong  about  the  system," 
he  said  ;  "we  must  find  an  antidote  right  away.  What 
shall  it  be  ?  that's  the  question." 

"  How  do  I  know  !  "  she  exclaimed  ;  "  a  patient  can 
not  prescribe  for  herself ;  that's  the  business  of  the 
physician." 

"  You  are  right.  Well,  I  will  undertake  to  play  the 
part  of  physician.  I  will  not  prescribe  either  pills 
or  powders,  but  a  change  of  climate  immediately." 

"  What  a  charming  prescription !  "  she  said.  "  Where 
shall  I  go  ?  Quick,  I'm  dying  to  hear." 

"  With  me,"  he  answered,  looking  at  her  with  a  kind 
smile.  "  Come,  fill  the  aching  void  in  my  heart." 

She  broke  into  a  merry  laugh.  "  The  void  alone  is 
yours — the  aching  is  mine.  Why,  I've  been  aching  all 
the  summer.  I've  made  the  awful  discovery  that  I  have 
bones  and  joints," 


REDE  AN K.  Ill 

"  Impossible  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  you  cannot  convince 
me  of  that.  You  are  chiseled  out  of  Parian  marble  by 
some  unknown  Phidias.  All  you  need  is  a  pedestal 
and  a  temple." 

"  You  absurd  man !  "  she  said ;  "  don't  you  know  you 
are  too  old  to  talk  such  nonsense?" 

"  Please,  don't  remind  me  of  my  age,"  he  answered  ; 
"  I'm  getting  to  be  very  much  ashamed  of  it.  No 
old  maid  can  be  more  sensitive  than  I  am  on  that  point. 
Ah !  would  I  were  a  boy  again  !  " 

"  You  must  start  off  and  try  to  find  the  fountain  of 
youth,"  she  said  lightly. 

"  I  have  already  found  it,  but  I'm  not  permitted  to 
bathe  in  it,"  he  answered. 

"  Where  is  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  don't  remember  the  exact  latitude  and  longitude  ; 
I  only  know  the  name  of  the  country." 

"  Then  tell  me  that." 

"  The  land  of  Love,"  he  replied. 

"  There  !  that  will  do,"  she  said,  breaking  into  a  light 
laugh ;  "  give  your  attention  now  to  the  horses,  or  they 
will  run  away,  and  we  will  both  find  ourselves  in  a  land 
of  stones  and  underbrush." 

He  seemed  inclined  to  obey  her,  for  he  gathered  up 
the  reins  more  tightly  and  touched  the  horses  with  the 
whip. 

Presently  he  again  looked  at  her  and  said,  very  seri 
ously,  as  if  tired  of  the  levity  in  which  they  had  been 
indulging,  "  Jessie,  have  you  really  been  ill  this  summer  ? 
You  look  so  pale  that  I  would  hardly  know  you." 

"  Do  I  ?  Why,  I'm  quite  well,"  she  replied  ;  "  you 
know  it  has  been  very  warm  ever  since  the  first  of  June, 
and  I  confess  I  have  felt  the  heat  more  than  ever  before. 
Then  Lilian  has  been  very  ill*  and  I  have  grown  some- 


112  REDBANE. 

what  tired  trying  to  help  Eleanor  take  care  of  her. 
But  I  assure  you  I  am  perfectly  well." 

He  shook  his  head  as  if  he  doubted  her  words. 
"  Jessie,  I  wish  you  would  give  me  the  right  to  love  you 
and  take  care  of  you.  There  are  some  women  who  are 
strong  enough  to  struggle  alone.  You  are  not  one  of 
them.  You  will  have  to  yield  after  awhile — why  not 
now?" 

She  was  both  vexed  and  touched  by  his  words,  and  the 
warm  color  came  into  her  pale  cheeks.  She  was  begin 
ning  to  realize  that  he  knew  her  better  than  she  knew 
herself.  Somehow  to-day  she  did  not  feel  equal  to 
renewing  the  battle  with  him — she  was  too  weak  and 
tired — she  feared  defeat ;  so  she  only  said  in  a  pleading 
tone,  "  Hush,  please,  you  must  not  talk  so  now.  Tell  me 
all  about  your  summer — where  you  have  been,  and  what 
you  have  been  doing  ;  and  about  Alice.  How  is  she  ?  " 

"  She  does  not  look  much  better  than  you  do,"  he 
answered;  "Jessie,  I  don't  know  what  is  the  matter 
with  Alice.  She  is  not  at  all  like  her  old  self.  Some 
times  she  is  unnaturally  gay  and  excited ;  at  other  times 
she  looks  tired  and  listless.  She  is  growing  very 
capricious  and  hard  to  please.  It  grieves  me  to  see  the 
change  in  her.  I'm  beginning  to  feel  that  all  women  are 
alike,  and  they  are  all  very  much  like  the  moon — they 
exhibit  a  new  phase  every  night." 

Jessie  laughed  and  asked,  "Where  is  Alice  now  ? 
Did  she  return  with  you  ?  " 

"  No,  she  is  in  Virginia,  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
with  her  mother  and  Waverley.  I  do  not  wish  her  to 
return  south  until  October ;  but  she  seems  quite  deter 
mined  to  come,  and  I'm  afraid  she  will  have  her  way. 
Jessie,"  he  continued,  "  she  looks  so  fragile  that  it 
almost  frightens  me." 


REDBANE.  113 

"I  am  very,  very  sorry  to  hear  it,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Perhaps  she  is  tired  of  all  the  travelling  and  gayety.  I 
know  she  does  not  care  for  such  things.  She  told  me 
before  she  left  that  she  would  much  prefer  to  stay  at 
home  with  her  books." 

"  Did  she  ?  "  he  asked,  "  I  wish  I  had  known  it.  I 
see  now  that  it  was  a  mistake  to  travel  so  much.  It 
has  tired  her.  But  I  thought  she  would  like  it.  How 
ever,  Waverley  may  be  able  to  set  things  right."  In 
spite  of  these  reassuring  words,  it  was  evident  that  he 
was  anxious  and  troubled  about  his  niece.  Jessie  had 
not  often  seen  such  a  shadow,  on  his  face.  He  fell  into 
a  long  silence. 

The  gray  horses  trotted  swifty  over  the  smooth  white 
road.  The  cool  air  and  the  delightful  motion  brought 
a  brilliant  glow  into  the  eyes  of  the  young  girl.  After 
her  long  and  wearisome  bondage  in  the  sick  room,  she 
keenly  felt  the  pleasure  of  lying  back  in  this  luxuri 
ous  carriage,  and  dashing  rapidly  along  without  any 
effort  on  her  part.  Moreover,  she  was  conscious,  as 
never  before,  of  the  agreeable  presence  beside  her. 
Hungry  in  every  fibre  of  her  rich  womanly  nature,  she 
had  never  so  keenly  felt  the  charm  of  perfect  companion 
ship.  The  Judge  was  quietly  reading  all  these  emotions 
in  her  tell-tale  face.  "  The  drive  is  doing  you  good," 
he  said  ;  "  how  muc.li  better  you  look  than  when  I  found 
you  sitting  like  '  a  maid  forlorn  '  upon  that  old  stone. 
I  wonder  what  you  were  thinking  about." 

She  smiled  and  held  her  peace.  "  Come,  tell  me, 
please,"  he  continued.  She  shook  her  head.  "  Well, 
I  can  guess.  You  were  thinking  about  me,  and  wishing 
that  I  would  hurry  up  and  come  and  give  you  that  ride 
I  promised  you  long  ago.  Wasn't  that  it?  " 


114  REDBANK. 

"  Clever  as  you  are,  you  have  not  yet  learned  to  read 
a  young  girl's  thoughts,"  she  said,  evasively. 

"Jessie,  if  you  would  only  listen  to  me,  child,"  he 
exclaimed  after  a  while ;  "  I  know  that  I  could  make 
you  very  happy." 

She  drew  farther  back  into  the  corner  of  the  carriage, 
and  put  up  her  little  hand  with  an  imploring  gesture. 

"  Please  do  not  tempt  me,"  she  cried  ;  "  I  cannot,  I 
must  not.  If  I  were  to  yield,  it  would  not  be  for  love 
of  you,  but  for  love  of  all  the  beautiful  things  that  you 
could  give  me." 

"  I  accept  your  consent,  even  on  those  terms,"  he 
answered  in  a  low  tone. 

"  But  it  would  be  wrong !  "  she  exclaimed ;  "  I  know 
it  would,  and  only  trouble  could  come  from  it.  If  I 
once  fell,  who  knows  what  might  happen  ? — No,  no, 
you  must  not  tempt  me.  I  cannot  bear  it  to-day — I 
feel  so  weak  and  helpless.  You  must  have  pity  on 
me!" 

He  said  nothing  more ;  soon  he  again  touched  the 
horses  with  the  whip,  as  if  impatient  and  desirous  of 
going  faster.  He  looked  so  sad  and  stern,  and  held 
the  horses  with  so  firm  a  grasp,  that  she  was  afraid  she 
had  wounded  him,  and  asked,  almost  in  a  whisper — 
"  You  are  not  angry  with  me,  are  you  ?  " 

"  No,  my  darling,"  he  answered ;  "  how  could  I  be 
angry  with  you  !  You  have  restored  to  me  my  boyish 
faith  in  angels,  and  all  other  good  and  beautiful  things." 

She  was  glad  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  make  any 
reply,  and  gave  her  attention  to  watching  the  trees 
as  they  swept  by  her.  Suddenly  they  reached  a  spot 
where  the  road  broadened,  and  the  Judge  turned  the 
horses  around.  "  The  sun  is  getting  low,"  he  said, 
"  perhaps  we  had  better  be  thinking  of  Redbank," 


BEDBANK.  115 

On  they  dashed  again.  They  had  travelled  over 
several  miles  before  she  found  it  in  her  heart  to  speak 
again ;  then  she  said,  somewhat  timidly,  "  If  you  do 
not  find  your  horses  too  absorbing,  do  tell  me  some 
news.  How  is  everybody  I  know  in  the  city  ?  " 

"  Everybody  is  growing  older  every  day  ;  that  is  all 
I  know,"  he  answered. 

"  Is  Nettie  Hunter  married?" 

"  No,  only  engaged  to  a  new  fellow  who  has  recently 
come  to  town." 

"  What  is  his  name  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Clarence  Sage.  Let  us  hope  he  will  have  the 
wisdom  requisite  for  his  new  position.  Can  you  ever 
think  of  Miss  Nettie  as  turning  into  Mrs.  Sage  ?  "  he 
asked  with  a  smile.  <•.„  . 

"  Never !  "  exclaimed  Jessie,  "  she  must  not  marry 
him.  It  would  be  too  ridiculous — too  paradoxical. 
You  must  resort  to  some  method  of  preventing  it." 

"  I  will  try,  if  you  wish  me,"  the  Judge  said,  play 
fully  ;  "  I  think,  myself,  that  something  ought  to  be 
done,  but  my  mind  is  not  quite  clear  on  the  subject  of 
who  should  do  it.  The  truth  is,  I  am  rather  afraid  of 
Miss  Nettie.  She  is  a  very  clever  girl.  She  has  ways 
of  entangling  a  fellow  in  his  own  words  and  convincing 
him  that  he  has  said  what  he  knows  he  has  never 
said,  and  making  him  declare  what  he  does  not  wish 
to  declare.  I  had  rather  not  meddle  with  her  affairs. 
She  is  too  smart  for  me.  I  confess  I  like  simpler 
girls." 

"  And  yet  the  gentlemen  all  find  her  perfectly  irre 
sistible,"  said  Jessie. 

"  That's  a  serious  fault  in  a  girl,"  he  replied  ;  "  to  be 
irresistible  is  to  be  dangerous,  like  a  qnicksand,  or  a 
whirlpool,  or  a  sunken  rock.  A  wise  man  instinctively 


116  REDBANK. 

avoids  such  women,  and  chooses  the  quiet  and  uncon 
scious  ones." 

"  You  make  me  think  that  there  are  very  few  wise 
men  in  the  world,"  exclaimed  Jessie.  "  I  once  heard 
Nettie  say  that  she  had  had  a  hundred  and  fifty  offers, 
and  never  intended  to  marry  until  she  had  received 
two  hundred.  That's  a  goodly  number  of  men  who  are 
not  wise — according  to  your  notion." 

"  You  surprise  me  by  your  knowledge  of  arithmetic, 
and  you  make  me  ashamed  of  my  sex,"  he  answered, 
laughing  heartily. 

"  And  Belle  Duval  ? — tell  me  something  about  her," 
asked  the  young  girl,  eagerly. 

"  She's  engaged  too,"  he  answered,  "  they  are  all 
engaged,  my  dear — every  single  one  of  them.  You 
are  the  only  one  who  is  left  out  in  the  cold.  You  will 
be  awfully  lonesome  before  the  winter  is  over." 

"When  I  am  lonesome,  I  will  let  you  know,"  she 
said,  with  a  faint  glow  of  color  on  her  cheeks — "  until 
then,  you  must  leave  me  in  peace." 

He  was  touched  by  her  pleading  tone.  "  I  will," 
he  replied  ;  "  only  don't  forget  the  promise." 

They  were  now  entering  the  avenue  that  led  up  to 
Redbank.  "  You  have  given  me  a  delightful  ride," 
said  the  girl,  "  and  I  thank  you  more  than  I  know  how 
to  express." 

"  It  is  I  who  am  the  debtor,"  was  the  answer. 

There  was  no  time  for  further  conversation.  The 
horses  soon  stopped  at  the  front  door,  and  Jessie  and 
the  judge  alighted  from  the  carriage. 

It  was  a  merry  party  that  gathered  around  the  supper 
table  that  evening.  Judge  Brooks  was  pelted  with 
questions  from  every  one,  to  which  he  replied  in  his 
own  graceful  style,  provoking  bright  retorts,  and  excit- 


&EDBANK.  117 

ing  an  unusual  amount  of  laughter.  There  is  nothing 
on  earth  quite  equal  to  the  companionship  of  a  genial 
friend :  we  never  realize  what  fountains  of  humor  and 
pathos  are  sealed  up  in  our  own  souls  until  he  comes 
with  his  magic  wand, — his  witch-hazel, — and  touches  the 
spot  where  the  springs  lie,  waiting  to  bubble  up. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"Hear  the  mellow  wedding  bells — 
Golden  bells  !" 

JUDGE  BROOKS  had  come  to  the  country  to  see  how 
affairs  were  progressing  on  the  plantation  of  his  sister- 
in-law,  and  to  make  arrangements  for  her  return  home 
early  in  October,  perhaps  sooner.  The  house  was  to 
be  put  in  order,  some  needful  repairs  attended  to, 
and  some  refurnishing  done  on  quite  an  extensive  scale. 
It  was  the  expectation  of  the  Judge,  as  well  as  of  the 
general  public,  that,  before  the  winter  was  over,  a  bril 
liant  wedding  would  be  celebrated  at  the  Grove.  Al 
most  from  infancy,  Alice  Brooks  had  been  the  destined 
bride  of  her  cousin  Waverley,  and  now  that  he  had 
returned  from  Europe  to  claim  her,  there  was  no  need 
of  delay  in  celebrating  the  happy  event. 

The  next  morning,  the  family  at  Redbank  gathered 
on  the  piazza  to  take  leave  of  their  guest.  His  visit  had 
refreshed  each  one  of  them,  and  they  were  reluctant  to 
see  him  depart,  but  he  declared  himself  too  overwhelmed 
with  the  business  that  had  accumulated  during  his  long 
absence  from  home  to  remain  another  day.  His  last 
adieus  were  spoken  to  Jessie,  and  she  felt  the  tender 
ness  of  his  manner  as  he  stooped  and  kissed  her  hand. 
She  watched  the  beautiful  gray  horses  as  they  trotted 
off  down  the  long  avenue.  With  his  own  inimitable 


REDBANK.  119 

grace,  the  Judge  lifted  his  hat  and  waved  his  friends  a 
liual  good-bye.  The  girl  stood  there  a  long  time  after 
the  carriage  was  out  of  sight.  It  would  have  been  diffi 
cult  to  analyze  her  complex  emotions.  Her  respect  and 
admiration  for  Judge  Brooks  were  very  great.  He  was 
by  far  the  most  attractive  man  that  she  had  ever  met ; 
and,  though  nearly  fifty  years  old,  he  was  so  full  of  vigor 
and  youthful  freshness  of  manner  and  soul  that  one 
never  thought  of  his  age.  His  social  position  and  great 
wealth  formed  a  handsome  frame  for  so  noble  a  man. 
His  strong  intellect,  and  his  broad  and  enlightened 
views  on  all  subjects,  gave  him  great  influence  not  only 
in  the  affairs  of  his  native  city  but  also  throughout  the 
whole  state.  Jessie  Holcombe  realized  all  this ;  she 
felt  a  longing  for  the  sheltering  love  of  such  a  man,  and 
the  worldly  delights  of  the  home  in  which  he  would 
place  her.  As  she  watched  him  drive  away,  a  keen 
pang  of  regret  seized  upon  her,  a  feeling  of  weariness 
and  depression,  as  if  it  were  all  over,  and  no  further 
interest  were  left  to  life.  If  he  could  have  stood  beside 
her  at  that  moment,  perhaps  she  would  have  relented 
and  consented  to  become  his  wife.  And  yet,  even  now, 
there  was  a  strange,  inexplicable  something  within  her 
that  restrained  and  subdued  the  longings  of  her  heart. 
While  the  girl  was  standing  there,  lost  in  thought,  the 
Colonel  came  across  the  yard  with  the  mail-bag  in  his 
hand.  The  arrival  of  the  mail  was  always  an  exciting 
event  at  Redbank.  It  was  necessary  to  send  to  the  city 
for  it,  and  sometimes  several  days  passed  without  any 
news  of  the  outside  world.  The  Colonel  ascended  the 
steps,  and  took  his  seat  on  the  piazza ;  then  he  opened 
the  bag  and  assorted  the  letters  and  papers.  There 
were  none  for  Jessie,  and  she  felt  but  little  interest  in 
those  received  by  the  other  members  of  the  family.  She 


120  REDBANK. 

was  about  to  go  to  her  room,  when  she  heard  an  exclama 
tion  of  surprise  from  the  Colonel.  He  raised  his  eyes 
from  the  letter  that  he  was  reading,  and  said  in  a  loud 
tone — "  Bless  my  heart !  Well,  this  is  news  !  " — and  he 
called  to  Mrs.  Winston,  who  was  swinging  Lilian  in  the 
hammock  at  the  other  end  of  the  piazza, — "  Come  here, 
Eleanor  ;  I've  some  astounding  news  for  you." 

She  came  slowly  forward,  hoi  ding  the  child  in  her  arms. 
"  I  hope  it  is  good  news,"  she  said,  "  for  I  am  limp 
enough  now ;  I  don't  think  I  could  stand  much  more." 

"  You  can  judge  for  yourself  whether  it  is  good  or  not. 
Listen, — the  letter  is -from  Philip.  Would  you  believe 
it  ? — he  is  going  to  be  married.  He  writes  that  the  lady 
— Miss  Percy  Lester — is  young,  beautiful,  and  very  rich. 
Her  father  is  a  prominent  business  man,  well-known 
throughout  the  North-West.  Her  own  mother  has  been 
dead  a  great  many  years,  but  there  is  a  step-mother,  also 
young  and  handsome.  Philip  puts  it  all  in  a  very  brief 
way,  as  if  anxious  to  get  through  with  the  announcement. 
There  is  to  be  a  large  wedding,  and  then  he  is  going  to 
bring  his  bride  East.  He  intends  to  spend  several 
weeks  in  visiting  the  large  cities — New  York,  Boston, 
Philadelphia,  Washington,  and  then  he  is  coming  South. 
He  wants  his  wife  to  see  his  native  state.  You  can 
guess  the  rest.  If  we  feel  in  a  hospitable  mood,  he  will 
make  us  a  visit.  What  do  you  say  to  it  ?  Here,  you 
may  read  the  letter." 

She  reached  out  her  hand  for  it,  and  read  it  through 
in  her  usual  deliberate  way,  without  betraying  any 
emotion.  When  she  had  finished  it,  she  returned  it 
to  her  husband.  "  Well,  how  shall  I  answer  it  ?  wh'at 
shall  I  say  to  him?  You  see  the  wedding  is  to  take 
place  very  soon — the  middle  of  next  month.  I  must 
write  immediately." 


REDBANK.  121 

"  You  know  perfectly  well,"  she  said,  "  that  there  is 
but  one  answer  to  be  made.  Of  course, "we  must  send 
them  an  invitation  to  come." 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  manage  it  in  proper  style  ?  " 
he  asked,  as  if  doubtful  of  the  present  resources  of  the 
plantation. 

"It  will  not  be  easy,"  she  answered;  "lam  rather 
worn-out  with  all  the  sickness  in  the  family,  and  my 
corps  of  servants  is  not  very  large  nor  very  efficient.  It 
is  more  difficult  to  entertain  guests  than  it  used  to  be  in 
the  old  days.  I'm  afraid  Southern  hospitality  is  on  the 
decline.  However,  I'll  manage  it ;  I'm  generally  equal 
to  such  emergencies." 

"  Well,  I  leave  it  all  in  your  hands,"  he  said.  And 
that  was  the  end  of  the  matter,  so  far  as  he  was  con 
cerned.  . 

The  letter  to  Mr.  Philip  Winston,  containing  an 
invitation  to  himself  and  bride  to  visit  Redbank  was 
immediately  written  and  sent.  It  was  sufficiently  cor 
dial  in  tone  to  satisfy  the  most  exacting.  It  left  the 
time  of  coming  and  the  length  of  stay  entirely  to  the 
disposition  of  the  guests.  The  Colonel  would  have  felt 
it  beneath  his  dignity  to  place  restrictions  upon  any  one 
who  honored  him  with  a  visit. 

During  the  next  few  weeks  there  was  an  unusual 
amount  of  commotion  in  the  old  plantation  home. 
There  was  some  house  cleaning,  some  hanging  of  fresh 
muslin  curtins,  some  unfolding  of  dainty  bed  and 
table  linen,  some  polishing  of  old  silver.  Lilian  was  in 
a  kind  of  ecstasy,  and  under  this  delightful  excitement 
she  rapidly  recovered  her  strength.  She  never  wearied 
of  listening  to  the  story,  of  her  new  uncle  and  aunt. 
They  seemed  to  her  like  a  prince  and  princess  from  some 
unknown  land,  and  she  endowed  them  with  all  the 


1-22  REDBAtfK. 

virtues  and  accomplishments  of  royalty.  Nothing  so 
beautiful  had  ever  happened  to  her  before,  and  her 
imagination  was  filled  with  pictures  as  gorgeous  as  the 
scenes  of  a  Christmas  pantomime.  This  coming  event 
vaguely  satisfied  that  deep  yearning  after  the  far-away, 
the  romantic,  the  splendid,  which  lies  in  the  heart  of 
every  child. 

At  length  the  day,  so  long  anticipated,  arrived.  It 
was  in  the  early  part  of  October,  and  the  weather  was 
perfect.  During  the  long  summer  the  heat  seemed  to 
have  expended  itself,  and  now  there  was  a  delightful 
freshness  to  the  air,  rather  unusual  in  that  southern 
climate.  The  horses  and  carriage  had  been  sent  to  the 
city  for  the  expected  guests.  The  house  had  been  deco 
rated  with  plants  and  flowers,  which  were  still  plentiful ; 
Lilian  and  the  baby  had  been  dressed  in  their  best 
clothes,  and  were  playing  on  the  piazza  ;  dinner  was  in 
process  of  preparation.  Mrs.  Winston  had  arrayed  her 
self  in  a  soft  gray  silk,  which  revealed  the  perfect  lady 
in  every  fold. 

Jessie  Holcombe  was  one  of  those  girls  who  never 
give  very  much  thought  to  the  outward  adornment. 
She  possessed  that  unconsciousness  of  dress  which 
is  so  rare  in  these  latter  days  ;  but  she  realized  the  im 
portance  of  the  present  occasion,  and  wished  to  show 
honor  to  the  strangers  who  were  coming  from  afar.  She 
loved  white,  and  knew  that  it  was  becoming  to  her,  so 
she  dressed  herself  in  a  long  princess  robe  of  white 
cashmere,  and  fastened  a  red  rose  at  her  throat.  She 
was  conscious  of  a  little  unnatural  excitement,  a  little 
flutter  of  anticipation,  which  was  both  new  and  pleasant. 
A  breeze  from  the  great  world  was  about  to  ripple  the 
dull  surface  of  her  life.  Her  experiences  had  been 
entirely  outside  of  what  is  culled  "  fashionable  society," 


REDBANK.  123 

and   she  was   rather   curious  to   see    what   manner   of 
woman  is  developed  in  that  luxurious  atmosphere. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  carriage 
drove  up  to  the  door.  All  the  family  were  out  on  the 
piazza,  and  a  group  of  colored  men  and  women  were 
crowded  in  the  hall,  intent  on  seeing  the  pageant. 

The  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Winston  stepped  forward  to' 
welcome  the  happy  pair,  and  congratulations  and  kisses 
were  exchanged.  Then  introductions  to  Miss  Hoi- 
combe  and  the  children  were  made  in  proper  form. 

The  bride  was  a  tall,  willowy  girl,  very  stylish  in  ap 
pearance.  Dressed  in  a  faultless  suit  of  dark  brown 
silk,  with  hat,  veil,  and  gloves  to  match,  she  looked  as 
if  she  had  just  stepped  out  of  the  last  fashion-plate. 
She  was  pretty  and  delicate  in  appearance ;  her  eyes 
were  brown  and  bright ;  her  hair  was  a  rich  auburn  in 
color,  and  her  complexion  was  brilliant.  She  had  a 
high,  thin  little  voice  ;  but  it  was  not  really  unpleasant 
to  listen  to,  unless  one  were  very  fastidious.  As  she 
turned  away  with  Mrs.  Winston  to  mount  the  stairs  to 
her  room,  Jessie  Holcombe  felt  a  pang  of  disappoint 
ment.  She  could  not  explain  the  feeling  even  to  her 
self  ;  perhaps  it  was  the  voice,  which  to  Jessie's  fine 
ear  sounded  flat  and  soulless,  wanting  the  modulations 
which  betray  all  the  delicate  shades  of  emotion. 

"  Isn't  she  beautiful !  "  exclaimed  Lilian,  quite  over 
whelmed  by  the  bright  vision. 

"  Beautiful !  "  echoed  the  negroes,  one  after  the 
other. 

"  Umph  !  "  said  Aunt  Lucy,  from  her  post  in  the  re 
mote  background. 

Mr.  Philip  Winston  lingered  on  the  piazza  with  his 
brother,  and  Jessie  had  an  opportunity  of  scanning  him 
from  head  to  foot.  She  saw  a  family  resemblance  be- 


124  REDBANK. 

tween  the  two  gentlemen,  and  yet  there  were  many 
points  of  difference.  Mr.  Philip  was  not  so  tall  as  the 
Colonel,  but  his  form  was  more  compact  and  his  air  more 
business-like.  He  wore  a  very  heavy  mustache  and  side- 
whiskers  which  were  reddish-brown  in  color.  His  man 
ners  were  very  graceful  and  polished,  and  he  bore  the 
unmistakable  impress  of  city  life.  There  was  a  style 
about  him,  which  is  given  partly  by  the  fashionable 
tailor,  and  partly  by  intercourse  with  fashionable 
society.  But  in  spite  of  these  external  attractions, 
there  was  something  about  his  face  that  Jessie  did  not 
like,  and  she  shrewdly  guessed  that  at  bottom  he  was 
hard,  cold,  calculating,  and  selfish.  Before  long  she 
had  reason  to  know  that  she  was  not  mistaken. 

Afternoon  tea  was  carried  into  the  room  of  the  bride, 
and  she  rested  several  hours.  Dinner  henceforth  was 
to  be  served  at  six,  in  compliment  to  the  city  guests. 

The  table  was  looking  quite  splendid  when  at  length 
the  family  gathered  around  it.  Every  relic  of  former 
prosperity  had  been  hunted  up  and  brought  into  promi 
nent  position. 

After  the  others  were  assembled,  the  bride  came  in, 
leaning  on  the  arm  of  her  husband.  She  wore  an  even 
ing-dress  of  black  velvet,  cut  low,  and  profusely  trimmed 
with  costly  lace.  Diamonds  flashed  from  her  ears  and 
throat  and  arms.  Her  abundant  auburn  hair  was  massed 
like  a  coronet  on  the  top  of  her  heed,  making  her  appeal- 
several  inches  taller.  Her  cheeks  were  aglow  with  rosy 
color,  and  she  looked  dazzling.  The  Colonel  placed 
her  on  his  right  hand,  and  then  turned  and  gazed  at 
her  with  undisguised  admiration. 

"  Why,  Philip,"  he  exclaimed,  "  allow  me  to  congrat 
ulate  you  again  ;  you  are  a  lucky  fellow — I  can  scarcely 
believe  my  own  eyes.  My  dear,"  he  continued,  turning 


REDE  AN X.  125 

to  Mrs.  Philip,  "  what  kind  of  spells  has  he  been  using 
to  bewitch  a  young  and  beautiful  creature  like  you  ?  " 

She  smiled,  and,  lifting  her  eyes  with  a  pretty  con 
sciousness,  replied — "  I  thought  it  was  I  who  had  be 
witched  him." 

"  The  bewitching  was  mutual,  of  course,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston. 

"Such  things  are  always  incomprehensible,  so  we 
won't  discuss  them,"  said  Mr.  Philip  ;  "  I'm  unaccount 
ably  hungry,  so  let's  discuss  the  dinner.  To  my  mind, 
that  is  a  more  interesting  topic  just  at  present."  It 
was  easy  to  see  that  he  appreciated  a  good  dinner,  and 
perhaps  considered  it  the  most  important  event  of  the 
day. 

"  Do  you  feel  perfectly  rested?"  asked  Mrs.  Winston. 

"  Oh !  yes  !  "  replied  the  bride  ;  "  I  feel  nicely  now, 
thank  you." 

"  Did  you  find  the  ride  long  and  tiresome  ?  "  asked 
the  Colonel. 

"  As  if  she  could  find  any  drive  long  or  tiresome  with 
me  beside  her !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Philip ;  "  I'm  sure  she 
found  it  heavenly." 

Mrs.  Philip  gave  a  little  turn  to  her  head,  and  a  side 
glance  upward  into  her  husband's  face, — it  was  a  pretty 
trick  of  hers, — when  she  said,  "  He  will  not  allow  me 
to  answer  for  myself.  He  has  me  in  perfect  subjection 
already.  I  am  very  fond  of  driving,  so  I  did  not  in  the 
least  mind  the  distance." 

"  You  see,  she  ignores  your  presence  altogether," 
said  the  Colonel  to  his  brother.  They  both  laughed. 

"  Yes:,  it  is  very  pleasant  to  see  somebody  else,"  re 
plied  Mrs.  Philip  ;  "  I  have  grown  fearfully  tired  of  sit 
ting  down  to  a  hotel-table  with  only  him  to  talk  to." 

"  Now,  I'm  fairly  extinguished,"  exclaimed  the  hus- 


126  11EJ)BANK. 

band ;  "  and  I  assure  yon  I  have  been  trying  my  very 
best  to  be  agreeable,  and  to  talk  about  balls  and  operas 
and  dresses,  and  all  the  other  feminine  topics  of  con 
versation.  My  failure  overwhelms  me  with  mortifica 
tion.  My  dear,"  turning  to  his  wife,  "  I  shall  never 
again  try  to  please  you.  My  mind  is  quite  made  up  on 
that  point."  Every  one  laughed. 

"And  my  mind  is  quite  made  up  in  the  contrary 
direction,"  she  answered,  with  an  emphatic  little  nod 
and  a  coquettish  smile. 

"We'll  see  who  will  pull  the  hardest,"  said  Mr. 
Philip,  reflecting  her  smile.  "  Miss  Holcombe,  you  are 
a  disinterested  party  ;  what  is  your  opinion  ?  Who  will 
win  in  the  pull  ?  " 

"  The  woman,  of  course,"  said  Jessie. 

"  Ah !  I  might  have  known  that  would  be  your 
decision.  But  why  do  you  think  the  woman  will  win?  " 

"  Because,  in  such  a  struggle,  the  man  never  pulls 
with  all  his  might,  and  the  woman  does,"  answered 
Jessie. 

"  Ah !  I  see  you  have  a  judicial  mind,"  Mr.  Philip 
said  ;  "  I  fear  I'm  doomed.  What  a  sad  state  of  affairs 
after  only  two  weeks  of  married  life." 

"  Yes,"  exclaimed  Miss  Holcombe,  "  it  is  an  awful 
warning  to  the  unmarried." 

Mrs.  Philip  looked  at  the  young  lady  across  the  table ; 
it  was  but  a  glance,  and  yet  somehow  Jessie  felt  that  it 
took  in  every  item  of  her  make-up,  even  to  the  cost  of 
the  lace  at  her  throat.  She  did  not  like  that  cold, 
curious  stare,  and  returned  it  with  a  haughty  flash  of 
her  fine  eyes.  It  annoyed  her  more  than  she  could  have 
explained,  even  to  herself,  to  be  measured  by  this  rich 
city  girl,  and  she  resented  it  as  a  rudeness.  There  was 
a  quick  spark  of  intelligence  between  the  two.  Mrs. 


REDBANK.  12" 

Philip  was  not  wanting  in  sense,  and  she  realized  in  a 
moment  that  there  was  something  more  to  this  girl  than 
her  clothes.  There  was  a  short  silence,  and  then  the 
conversation  turned  upon  the  late  wedding,  and  the  tour 
through  the  Eastern  States.  The  bride  had  never  been 
East  before,  and  she  had  fresh  impressions  to  express, 
Avhich  she  did  very  prettily.  With  New  York  she  was 
perfectly  fascinated,  but  Washington  was  a  great  dis 
appointment.  "  After  a  few  handsome  public  buildings, 
there  is  nothing  to  see,"  she  said ;  "  New  York  is  ever 
so  much  nicer.  I  would  really  like  to  go  there  to  live." 

"  My  dear,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  you  must  not  take 
New  York  for  your  standard.  If  you.  do,  you  will  be 
disappointed  with  everything  else.  Washington  has  a 
character  of  its  own,  so  has  Philadelphia,  so  has  Balti 
more,  and  so  has  Redbank,"  and  he  laughed  heartily  at 
this  anti-climax.  . 

"  She  is  perfectly  enchanted  with  Redbank,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Philip  ;  "  I  had  somewhat  prepared  her  for  its  splen 
dors,  but,  like  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  she  is  compelled 
to  confess  that  the  half  was  not  told  her."  She  looked 
at  him  steadily  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  laughed. 
"  I  undertake  to  interpret  your  emotions  for  you,  and  to 
put  their  vague  confusion  into  words,"  said  the  husband. 

"  Thank  you,"  was  her  reply,  and  again  she  laughed. 

Colonel  Winston  was  very  sensitive  about  any 
allusion  to  the  South,  and  imagined  a  concealed 
sting  in  this  little  laugh.  He  keenly  felt  the  contrast 
between  the  prosperity  of  the  North  and  the  poverty  of 
the  South.  He  knew  that  this  girl  had  just  come  from 
a  luxurious  home,  and  would  perhaps  despise  the  simple 
comforts  of  Redbank.  "  My  dear,"  he  said,  "  we  are  all 
poor  at  the  South  now  ;  we  are,  as  you  know,  quite 
broken  down  in  the  world.  We  are  sorry  to  have  nothing 


128  REDBANK. 

better  to  offer  you ;  but  what  we  have  is  offered  with 
cordial  hospitality."  He  spoke  these  words  with  his 
grandest  manner. 

"  Pray,  don't  apologize,"  she  said,  quickly  ;  "  you  mis 
understand  me  altogether.  I  like  Redbank  and  every 
thing  about  it  exceedingly,  and  I  am  sure  I  shall  have 
a  perfectly  lovely  time  with  you  all.  I  could  not  help 
laughing,  a  little  while  ago — please  excuse  me ;  but 
Philip  has  been  entertaining  me  with  the  most  absurd 
stories  about  your  way  of  living.  One  day  he  would 
picture  something  quite  palatial,  and  the  next  he  would 
describe  something  so  shabby  as  to  excite  my  disgust. 
I  think  he  takes  pleasure  in  teasing  me." 

"  I  must  put  a  stop  to  that  right  away,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston,  with  decided  emphasis  ;  "  I  cannot  allow  you 
to  be  teased  under  my  roof.  Do  you  hear,  Philip  ?  " 

"  Her  accusation  against  me  is  entirely  without  founda 
tion,"  replied  the  gentleman,  looking  up  from  his  plate 
with  the  blank  stare  of  perfect  innocence.  "  She  is  the 
tease.  She  has  teased  me  almost  to  death  to  learn  the 
minutest  incident  in  the  past  life  of  every  one  of  you. 
She  would  have  made  a  good  inquisitor,  I  assure  you. 
Of  course,  I  was  obliged  sometimes  to  draw  on  my 
imagination  in  order  to  satisfy  this  morbid  curiosity." 

"  You  shall  not  misrepresent  me  so  !  "  she  cried,  a 
flush  mounting  to  her  forehead.  "  You  are  the  most 
provoking  man  I  ever  saw." 

The  arch  smile  with  which  this  was  spoken  extracted 
the  sting  from  the  charge. 

"  And  you  are  the  most  provoking  woman  that  I  ever 
saw,"  he  answered  back,  also  reflecting  her  smile. 

"  We  give  our  sympathy  to  the  lady,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston  ;  "  here,  on  the  spot,  we  form  an  alliance  against 
tyranny  and  oppression." 


ttSDBANK,  129 

"  Why,  this  is  dreadful  !  I'm  afraid  my  happiness 
is  at  an  end  !  "  cried  Mr.  Philip,  laying  down  his  knife 
and  fork.  "  Miss  Holcombe,  can  I  not  at  least  rely  upon 
your  assistance  in  this  unnatural  alliance  against  me  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not  ;  I  have  been  told  that  it  is  very 
unsafe  to  mix  oneself  up  in  conjugal  quarrels,  so  I  shall 
remain  neutral." 

"  And  lose  your  reputation  for  valor  ?  "  he  asked. 
"  You  know  neutrals  are  often  considered  cowards." 

"  Sometimes  '  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor,'  " 
Jessie  answered. 

Again,  Mrs.  Philip  fixed  her  eyes  upon  the  young  girl 
with  a  cold,  curious  stare.  Her  husband  observed  it. 
"  Well,  what  are  you  thinking  about  ?  "  he  asked,  while 
an  amused  expression  flitted  over  his  face. 

She  bent  her  head  a  little  and  half-whispered  :  "  I'm 
afraid  of  her — her  eyes  are  dangerous." 

A  faint  flush  spread  over  Jessie's  face,  but  the  remark 
was  made  with  such  a  pretty,  arch,  innocent  air,  that 
she  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  take  offence. 

"  After  all,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  be  vexed  with  this 
bewitching  creature,"  thought  Jessie  ;  "  but  she  is  very 
different  from  the  girls  that  I  have  been  used  to." 

"  My  dear,"  said  Colonel  Winston,  turning  to  Mrs. 
Philip,  "  I  do  not  think  that  you  ought  to  complain  of 
anybody's  eyes.  I'm  sure  there  is  mischief  enough  in 
your  two." 

She  smiled  and  answered,  "  Oh !  no,  you  are  altogether 
mistaken  ;  mine  are  very  harmless  orbs — they  are  only 
useful  to  see  with." 

"  I  don't  like  to  begin  our  acquaintance  by  declining 
to  believe  what  you  say,"  he  replied ;  "  but  in  this  case 
I  cannot  reject  the  evidence  of  my  own  senses." 

"  She  is  not  referring  to  the   past ;  she   is   making 

9 


130  REDBANE. 

promises  for  the  future,"  said  Mr.  Philip.  "  She  means 
they  are  going  to  be  very  harmless  hereafter,"  and  he 
looked  at  his  wife  as  if  challenging  her  to  contradict  his 
assertion. 

"  Again  you  undertake  to  give  expression  to  the  vague 
confusion  of  my  thoughts,"  she  said,  laughing  ;  "  this 
time  I  think  you  have  gotten  my  meaning  a  little  mixed. 
I  promise  nothing  for  the  future — nothing  whatever." 
Her  manner  was  very  pretty  and  positive. 

"  But  you  have  already  made  a  promise  which  covers 
the  whole  ground,"  he  answered. 

"  Have  I  ? "  she  asked,  with  charming  innocence. 
"  When  ?  where  ?" 

He  put  the  tip  of  his  finger  on  the  ring  that  she  had 
given  him,  and  pointed  to  the  one  that  he  had  given  her. 

"  By  that  promise,  you  annihilated  self,  your  will  is 
now  merged  in  mine." 

"  I  thought  it  was  your  will  that  was  merged  in  mine," 
she  cried  gayly,  and  every  one  laughed  at  her  saucy  way 
of  disputing  him. 

"  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that  there  is  sometimes 
more  than  one  interpretation  to  a  contract,"  Mr.  Philip 
answered,  "  but  the  reading  established  by  custom  is 
the  one  that  holds  good  in  our  law  courts.  Is  it  not  so, 
Miss  Holcombe  ?  " 

"•  I  am  not  learned  in  the  law,  like  Portia,"  replied  the 
young  lady  thus  appealed  to,  "  but  I  have  heard  an  old 
adage  which  says, '  Man  has  his  will,  but  woman  has  her 
way.'  Let  me  advise  you  as  a  friend  to  avoid  contention 
with  a  woman,  lest  you  come  to  grief." 

u  That  is  wise  advice,  Miss  Holcombe  ;  I  will  try  to 
follow  it,"  he  said. 

There  Avas  a  brief  pause  in  the  conversation,  and  then 
Mr.  Philip  again  looked  at  Jessie  and  said,  "  Miss  Hoi- 


&EDBANK,  131 

combe,  will  you  allow  me  to  place  my  wife  in  your 
charge  for  a  brief  season  ?  Will  you  become  her  guide, 
and  show  her  the  sights  of  Redbank  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  better  for  you  to  act  as  her  guide," 
replied  the  girl,  feeling  that  his  politeness  prompted  him 
to  address  an  occasional  remark  to  her,  and  that  his 
request  was  not  made  with  the  desire  to  promote  an 
acquaintance  between  his  young  wife  and  herself. 

"  But  I  am  sick  of  sight-seeing,"  he  said ;  "  Washington 
has  exhausted  me,  both  physically  and  mentally.  I  have 
come  to  this  place  for  a  little  rest.  It  would  be  a  great 
favor,  if  you  would  consent  to  relieve  me  of  this  duty." 

"  Perhaps  the  lady  may  object  to  having  you  relieved?  " 
said  Jessie,  looking  at  Mrs.  Philip. 

"  Not  at  all,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  he  is  a  very  disagreeable 
guide,  I  assure  you.  He  never  wants  me  to  ask  a  single 
question.  He  expects  me  to  march  around  perfectly 
dumb." 

Her  husband  again  laid  down  his  knife  and  fork,  and 
gazed  at  her  fixedly  for  a  few  moments.  "  A  single  ques 
tion  !  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  why,  she  will  ask  more  in  a 
minute  than  one  can  answer  in  a  month." 

"  Well,  for  my  part,  I  like  an  inquiring  mind,"  said 
Miss  Holcombe  ;  "  it  promotes  conversation.  I  am  flat 
tered  by  the  compliment  you  pay  me  in  selecting  me  as 
the  guide  of  your  wife,  Mr.  Winston,  and  I  will  begin 
my  duties  to-morrow.  Let  me  consider  what  there  is 
to  see  :  The  cotton  fields,  the  gin-house,  the  screw,  the 
quarter,  the  mill,  and  the  pine  wood.  Prepare  yourself 
for  great  physical  effort,"  she  continued,  turning  to  Mrs. 
Philip  ;  "  it  will  be  far  more  exhausting  than  the  public 
buildings  of  Washington." 

"  Thanks  !  You  are  very  kind,"  replied  the  bride,  in 
rather  a  dry  tone.  "  I  am  full  of  curiosity  to  see  a 


132  REDBANK. 

southern  plantation  ;  I  have  heard  so  much  about  the 
easy,  delightful  life  that  is  led  upon  them.  It  is  Philip's 
ideal  of  existence — he  sometimes  threatens  to  go  upon 
one  himself.  Is  it  really  pleasant  ?  I  confess  it  looks 
rather  lonely  to  me  not  to  have  a  single  neighbor  within 
five  miles.  How  do  you  manage  to  endure  it  all  the 
year  round?  I'm  sure  I  should  die." 

"  You  must  have  resources  of  entertainment  within 
yourself,"  said  Mrs.  Winston. 

"  But  I  have  none  whatever,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a 
little  yawn ;  "  I  have  no  talents — I  have  no  accomplish 
ments." 

"  Yes,  you  have  a  wonderful  talent  for  yawning,  my 
dear,"  said  her  husband,  who  had  noted  the  little  lapse 
from  good  form. 

"  I  never  yawn  unless  I'm  dull,"  she  replied,  un 
mindful  that  she  was  confessing  herself  a  little  tired  of 
the  present  company ;  "  it  is  nature's  relief  for  dul- 
ness." 

"  Is  that  true,  Miss  Holcombe  ?  Is  it  not  rather  a 
small  vice  that  one  can  correct  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Philip. 

"  Is  it  becoming  in  you  to  question  a  statement  made 
by  your  wife  ?  "  replied  the  young  lady  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes  ;  married  life  would  be  very  dull  without  ques 
tions  to  enliven  it,  and  it  is  dulness  we  wish  to  escape 
from,"  he  answered. 

"  Then  you  must  give  yourself  plenty  to  do,"  said 
Mrs.  Winston  ;  "  when  one  is  busy  all  the  time,  one  is 
never  dull." 

"  Then  this  little  lady  must  learn  how  to  be  busy," 
he  said  with  playful  emphasis. 

The  young  wife  looked  up  at  her  husband  with  a 
little  flash  of  impatience  in  her  eyes.  "  Was  that  in  the 
contract,  too  ?  "  she  asked  ;  "  I  did  not  see  it." 


EEDBANK.  133 

"  You  know,  my  dear,"  he  answered,  quietly,  "  that 
some  of  these  days  I  am  going  on  a  southern  plantation 
to  live.  I  am  on  the  look-out  for  one  now — perhaps  I 
shall  find  it  very  soon.  Now,  since  one  can  only  be 
happy  on  a  plantation  by  being  busy  all  the  time,  you 
must  begin  right  away  to  learn  how  to  be  busy  and 
interested  in  cows  and  pigs  and  chickens." 

Again  there  was  a  little  flash  of  the  brown  eyes.  "  If 
you  go  on  a  southern  plantation  to  live,  do  you  expect 
me  to  go  with  you  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Of  course,  I  do.  You  don't  expect  me  to  go  to  the 
expense  of  hiring  a  housekeeper,  when  I  have  you  on 
my  hands — do  you  ?  " — and  he  laughed  heartily  at  her 
dismayed  expression. 

She  turned  to  Mrs.  Winston  and  exclaimed  helplessly 
— "  Only  see  how  he  teases  me  !  " 

"  Philip,  you  must  not,"  said  Eleanor  ;  "  I  shall  have 
to  lecture  you  in  private," — and  she  shook  her  head  at 
him,  though  she  could  not  help  joining  in  the  laughter. 

When  the  dinner  was  ended,  they  all  went  into  the 
parlor.  The  gentlemen  approached  an  open  window, 
threw  themselves  down  in  two  convenient  easy-chairs, 
lighted  their  cigars,  and  began  to  smoke. 

Soon  they  fell  to  recalling  old  times,  and  their  laughter 
was  loud  and  long. 

Mrs.  Philip  stood  a  while  and  watched  them  ;  then 
she  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  said  to  Jessie — "  Come, 
let's  go  into  the  next  room.  I  can't  endure  tobacco 
smoke.  When  I  return  home,  I  shall  make  Philip  go 
to  his  club  to  smoke." 

He  overheard  the  remark,  and  called  out — "  No,  you 
won't." 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  she  answered,  as  she  moved  away. 
Soon  she  laid  her  jewelled  hand  on  the  arm  of  her 


134  REDBANK. 

companion,  ;ind  said — "  Please  tell  me  what  1  am  to 
call  you." 

"  My  name  is  Jessica  Holcombe,''  was  the  reply.  "  I 
would  like  to  have  you  call  me  Jessie,  as  everybody  else 
does." 

"  Then  you  must  call  me  Percy." 

"  Very  well ;  we  would  find  it  stiff  and  unpleasant  to 
be  formal." 

After  a  short  pause,  Jessie  asked  Mrs.  Philip  if  she 
played  on  the  piano. 

"  Only  a  very,  very  little,"  the  lady  answered  ;  "  but 
I  see  such  piles  of  music  that  I  am  sure  you  do.  Will 
you  not  play  for  me  ?  I  am  rather  tired,  and  will  curl 
up  on  this  sofa  and  listen." 

"  What  kind  of  music  do  you  like  ?  "  asked  Jessie. 

"  All  kinds  ;  I  shall  be  satisfied  with  your  selections." 

Soon  she  had  snuggled  down  on  one  end  of  the  sofa, 
spreading  out  her  elegant  train  on  the  floor  in  front  of 
her.  Jessie  found  a  pile  of  operatic  music,  and  began 
to  play  some  airs  from  II  Trovatore. 

"  I  like  that  very  much,"  said  the  lady. 

The  young  girl  played  on  and  on,  piece  after  piece. 
Presently  she  heard  a  little  snore.  Mrs.  Philip  was 
asleep. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  Leaves  are  light  and  idle,  and  wavering  and  changeable;  they  even 
dance.  Yet  God  in  his  wisdom  has  made  them  part  of  the  oak.  In 
so  doing,  he  has  given  us  a  lesson  not  to  doubt  the  stout-heartedness 
within  because  we  seethe  lightsomeness  without." 

MES.  PHILIP  WINSTON  seemed  strangely  out  of  place 
on  a  southern  plantation.  How  she  came  to  be  there 
was  a  mystery  to  herself  as  well  as  to  others.  Born  in 
one  of  those  great  cities  of  the  West  whose  increase  in 
wealth  has  astonished  the  world ;  accustomed  from  in 
fancy  to  almost  oriental  luxury  ;  unacquainted  with  any 
side  of  life  but  the  sunny  side  ;  by  what  freak  of  fate 
had  she  wandered  from  her  sphere  to  touch  these  other 
lives  so  full  of  sharp  realities  ?  She  was  unable  to  under 
stand  her  new  surroundings,  and  floated  in  the  midst  of 
these  quiet  country  scenes,  perfectly  unconscious  of  the 
under-currents,  bobbing  here  and  there  like  a  bright 
buoy.  She  was  indeed  a  rare  bit  of  color  in  the  dull 
picture.  Morning  and  evening  she  arrayed  herself  in 
something  new  and  beautiful.  These  exquisite  clothes 
did  not  seem  to  be  accidental  accessories  of  existence 
but  an  integral  part  of  her  very  being.  She  spent  many 
hours  in  the  elaborate  processes  of  the  toilette,  and  seemed 
to  derive  a  refined  enjoyment  from  the  exercise.  With 
so  small  a  public  to  appreciate,  it  was  surely  a  waste  of 
human  energy,  to  put  on  and  pull  off  so  many  dresses, 


136  REDBANK. 

but,  like  a  devotee  at  some  shrine,  she  appeared  to  find 
a  spiritual  comfort  from  the  mysterious  rites.  When 
not  actually  dressing,  or  undressing  she  was  arranging 
the  trays  of  her  trunks,  unfolding  and  refolding  her 
costly  laces,  opening  and  shutting  her  boxes  of  jewels, 
shaking  out  her  rich  scarfs  and  sashes,  or  spreading  her 
elegant  dresses,  on  the  bed  or  chairs  of  her  room,  in  order 
to  air  or  sun  them.  She  seemed  to  be  entirely  without 
other  resources  of  entertainment. 

She  never  opened  a  book,  she  did  not  know  how  to 
draw  or  paint,  and  she  possessed  only  the  most  super 
ficial  knowledge  of  music.  Her  time  was  wholly  taken 
up  in  lounging  on  the  bed,  or  rummaging  in  her  trunks, 
or  arranging  the  hundreds  of  exquisite  articles,  that  she 
had  heaped  on  the  bureau,  the  mantel-piece  and  the 
tables  of  her  room.  In  a  pretty,  restless  fashion,  like 
some  bright  butterfly  or  humming  bird,  she  flitted  hither 
and  thither  over  these  little  tasks,  singing  snatches  of 
fashionable  operas,  and  seeming  as  happy  as  if  absorbed 
in  the  most  exalted  duties. 

Sometimes  she  settled  down  for  a  few  hours  and  wrote 
letters;  but  this  appeared  to  tax  her  energies  fearfully, 
to  use  her  own  favorite  adverb.  She  would  arise  from 
the  task  looking  worn  and  collapsed.  During  the 
morning  hours,  she  was  left  much  to  herself ;  this  was 
unavoidable  in  a  well-regulated  home  like  Redbank, 
where  each  member  of  the  family  had  clearly  denned 
duties.  Jessie's  hours  were  spent  in  reading  and  teach 
ing  Lilian.  Mrs.  Winston  was  occupied  in  household 
tasks.  The  Colonel  usually  went  off  immediately  after 
breakfast  for  a  ride  over  his  cotton-fields.  Mr.  Philip 
always  accompanied  him,  quietly  ignoring  the  claims  of 
his  young  wife. 

After  luncheon,  Jessie  and  Lilian   were  free  to  visit 


REDBANK.  137 

Percy  in  her  room.  She  was  always  sweet  and  charming 
with  them,  exhibiting  the  choice  bric-a-brac  scattered 
around,  showing  them  photographs  of  her  friends,  and 
telling  them  about  the  splendors  of  her  city  home. 
Sometimes  she  would  consent  to  take  a  short  walk,  but 
there  was  nothing  to  see — no  shops — no  people,  and  she 
was  soon  tired,  and  desirous  of  returning  to  the  house. 
She  did  not  know  much  about  riding ;  having  once  been 
thrown  at  the  riding-school,  her  lessons  had  ended  then 
and  there.  Occasionally,  her  husband  would  propose  a 
drive,  and  to  this  she  eagerly  assented,  and  always 
returned  much  refreshed,  even  though  there  was  no 
fashionable  park  in  which  to  show  off  her  toilette  and 
equipage. 

Only  a  few  of  the  neighbors  had  yet  returned  from 
their  summer  excursions,  so  Mrs.  Winston  did  not  dare 
to  venture  upon  a  dinner-party,  or  any  other  form  of 
entertainment  for  her  guests,  fearing  lest  her  effort 
might,  in  their  eyes,  prove  a  failure.  In  truth,  both 
Eleanor  and  Jessie  were  sorely  taxed  to  furnish  some 
amusement  for  this  bright  young  creature  thrown  upon 
their  hands.  They  were  thankful  to  find  that  she  was 
fond  of  cards  ;  a  card-table  became  an  established  custom 
in  the  evening.  But  Mr.  Philip  hated  cards,  and  would 
never  join  in  the  game.  Night  after  night,  the  Colonel, 
Mrs.  Winston,  and  Jessie  sat  around  the  table  until 
nearly  twelve  o'clock,  playing  whist  with  the  exacting 
little  lady,  who  had  a  most  charming  way  of  pleading 
for  another  and  yet  another  rubber.  If  she  were  losing, 
she  was  always  eager  to  retrieve  her  reputation  ;  if  she 
were  winning,  she  was  too  excited  to  stop.  This  pas 
sion  for  play  seemed  to  annoy  Mr.  Philip  very  much ; 
sometimes  he  frowned,  sometimes  he  reproved,  and  some 
times  he  scolded  ;  but  it  was  all  of  no  avail.  "  You  will 


138  REDBANK. 

smoke  your  horrid  cigars,  when  you  know  I  hate  them ; 
so  I'm  going  to  play  cards,  even  if  you  don't  like  it," 
she  would  say  with  saucy  determination.  It  was  evident 
that  she  had  no  more  idea  of  yielding  to  his  wishes  than 
lie  had  of  yielding  to  hers.  Jessie  Holcombe  looked  on 
at  this  playful  warfare,  and  wondered  if  it  would  long 
continue  to  be  waged  without  arousing  strong  passions  on 
both  sides.  More  than  ever  she  realized  the  meaning  of 
marriage,  and  felt  a  vague  dread  of  the  life  that  follows, 
when  there  is  no  spiritual  affinity  to  make  the  union 
complete. 

Jessie  was  thrown  continually  with  Mrs.  Philip,  and 
under  the  influence  of  this  familiar  intercourse,  some 
thing  akin  to  intimacy  had  sprung  up  between  the  two. 
They  were  both  young,  lively,  and  full  of  girlish  chatter. 
They  talked  much  with  each  other,  and  discussed  all 
kinds  of  questions  with  the  abandon  of  youth.  On 
almost  every  point  they  differed,  nor  was  this  strange. 
They  stood  on  different  points  of  observation,  and  were 
themselves  different  in  character — as  different  as  the 
field  flower  and  the  rare  production  of  the  hot-house. 
Percy  was  thoroughly  worldly  and  conventional,  loving 
society  and  admiration,  and  passionately  fond  of  dress 
and  display  of  every  kind.  Her  whole  life  had  been 
passed  in  an  artificial  atmosphere.  She  measured  every 
thing  by  the  money  standard;  she  had  no  conception  of 
anything  better  than  a  handsome  house,  a  large  income, 
and  an  unlimited  expenditure.  Yet  she  was  naturally 
frank,  generous,  and  affectionate.  Her  manners  were 
caressing  and  charming ;  she  understood  the  potency  of 
winning  tones,  arch  glances,  and  coquettish  smiles.  She 
was  such  a  gay,  winsome  creature  that  you  could  not 
find  it  in  your  heart  to  disapprove  of  anything  she  did  ; 
and  yet  you  could  not  help  feeling  that  her  brain  was  a 


EEDBANK.  13.9 

sad  muddle  of  false  ideas  and  opinions.  She  was  poorly 
equipped  for  the  battle  of  life,  and  you  found  yourself 
wondering  what  she  would  make  of  actual  trouble,  if  it 
ever  came  to  her.  It  is  a  pity  that  young  ladies  so 
reared  should  not  be  able  to  command  all  the  favors  of 
fortune,  until  death  comes  to  transfer  them  to  a  world 
less  uncertain  than  our  own. 

It  would  have  been  difficult  to  find  a  girl  more  op 
posite  in  character  than  Jessie  Holcombe.  She  had 
grown  up  in  one  of  those  Virginia  homes,  so  simple,  and 
yet  so  full  of  comfort  and  true  refinement.  She  loved 
the  country  with  its  broad  fields  and  forests  ;  she  loved 
her  horses,  her  dogs,  her  books.  Her  father  had  not 
been  a  rich  man,  but  he  had  occupied  a  high  social  posi 
tion  and  had  been  widely  known  and  honored  in  his 
native  state.  He  had  possessed  much  learning  of  an 
old-fashioned  kind  ;  this  had  been  joined  to  a  rare  sim 
plicity  and  strength  of  character.  Jessie  had  been  his 
companion  and  pupil  almost  from  infancy,  and  he  had 
instilled  into  her  a  love  for  the  best  and  highest  things. 
Now  that  she  had  grown  to  womanhood,  she  was  full  of 
vague  but  lofty  ideals.  She  often  longed  for  something 
more  than  she  possessed — for  greater  variety,  larger 
means,  a  broader  field  of  action  ;  but  these  restless  feel 
ings  were  held  in  check  by  a  pure  heart  and  a  strong 
will.  Jessie  Holcombe  and  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  could 
never  have  been  very  warm  friends ;  the  soil  of  their 
natures  was  as  unlike  as  sand  and  loam ;  but  thrown 
together,  as  they  now  were,  in  this  old  plantation  house, 
their  companionship  was  not  without  its  pleasures. 

One  evening  after  a  chilly,  rainy  day,  Percy  came 
into  Jessie's  room.  "  I'm  tired  to  death,"  she  said, 
wearily  ;  "  Philip  is  off,  smoking  and  talking  with  the 
Colonel  in  that  horrid,  stuffy,  old  library ;  Eleanor  is 


140  REDBANK. 

reading  in  her  own  room,  and  Lilian  has  gone  to  bed. 
May  I  sit  with  you  a  while  ?  " 

"  Of  course  you  may,"  replied  Jessie  ;  "  here,  take  this 
chair  beside  the  fire." 

"  No,"  said  Percy,  "  you  may  sit  there — I  prefer  this 
seat  by  the  table.  I  hate  open  fires — they  burn  my  face 
up  while  my  back  is  freezing.  The  furnaces  and  regis 
ters  we  have  at  home  are  ever  so  much  nicer." 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  furnaces,"  answered 
Jessie,  "  but  I  am  sure  nothing  could  be  more  cheerful 
and  beautiful  than  a  wood-fire.  At  night  before  I  go 
to  bed,  I  love  to  sit  and  watch  it  die  out.  The  red-hot 
coals  grow  fainter  and  fainter,  until  they  fade  away 
entirely  under  the  white  ashes.  I  don't  wonder  that 
people  used  to  think  there  were  spirits  in  the  fire.  I 
think  so  myself,  sometimes." 

"  What  a  funny  girl  you  are,"  said  Percy.  "  I  never 
think  about  the  fire  unless  I'm  cold.  Do  let's  talk  about 
something  else.  I'm  fearfully  blue  to-night.  I've  a 
great  mind  to  go  to  my  room,  and  lock  my  door,  and 
have  a  good  cry  all  by  myself.  Wouldn't  Philip  be 
mad,  if  I  did?  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  he  hates 
so  much  as  a  woman's  tears.  I  have  never  had  but  one 
cry  since  I  was  married.  That  was  in  New  York, 
because  he  would  not  take  me  to  drive  in  the  park  one 
afternoon.  He  declared  that  he  was  tired  to  death, 
trotting  around  with  me — wasn't  that  a  fine  expression 
for  him  to  use  ?  Besides,  he  insisted  that  it  was  too  late 
to  go,  though  that  wasn't  true  a  bit.  Well,  I  was  foolish 
enough  to  cry.  Gracious  !  wasn't  he  mad  !  For  a  while 
he  raged  up  and  down  the  room,  and  expressed  his 
opinion  very  freely  about  women.  I  asked  him  why  he 
had  married  one,  then  ?  That  question  cooled  him  a  little, 
and  he  said  very  sweetly,  because  he  loved  her.  But  he 


tiEDBANK.  141 

gave  me  to  understand  that  I  could  never  carry  my  point 
over  him  by  crying."  Percy  laughed  a  little  at  the 
remembrance ;  Jessie  said  nothing.  The  unsolicited 
confidence  surprised  her.  The  lady  was  vexed  with  her 
husband  to-night,  and  quite  inclined  to  expose  his  short 
comings. 

Jessie's  room  was  above  the  library,  and  the  two  girls 
could  plainly  hear  the  voices  of  the  gentlemen  as  they 
laughed  and  chatted  together  over  their  cigars. 

"  What  are  they  talking  about,  do  you  suppose  ?  " 
asked  the  young  wife,  feeling  herself  somewhat  aggrieved 
to  be  excluded  from  this  jovial  company. 

"  Old  times,  of  course ;  you  know  it  has  been  a 
great  many  years  since  they  have  met,  and  they  enjoy 
talking  about  what  happened  when  they  were  boys/' 

"  But  they  couldn't  have  been  boys  together,"  said 
Percy, — "  there  is  a  great  difference  in  their  ages." 

"  Only  about  ten  years,"  said  Jessie ;  "  I  believe  the 
Colonel  prolonged  his  boyhood  into  the  twenties.  He 
was  very  wild  in  his  youth." 

"So  was  Philip,  I'm  sure,"  Percy  replied;  "I  would 
like  to  know  all  about  it,  but  he  is  as  close  as  an  oyster 
with  me.  I  don't  even  know  his  age." 

Jessie  did  not  know  how  to  answer  this  remark,  so 
she  was  silent.  Soon  her  companion  exclaimed— 

"  Jessica  Holcombe,  how  can  you  endure  to  stay  down 
here  on  this  lonely  plantation  !  And  yet  you  look  as 
serene  as  if  you  enjoyed  it.  For  my  part,  I  had  rather 
be  a  toad  shut  up  in  a  mountain." 

The  young  girl  laughed,  and  said,  "  You  know  we  do 
not  always  fashion  our  own  lives ;  sometimes  we  must 
make  the  best  of  circumstances  that  we  cannot  control." 

"  Nonsense,"  said  Percy  ;  "  you  could  get  away  from 
Redbank  if  you  made  up  your  mind  to  do  it  Why.  you 


142  RtiDBANK. 

could  get  married — most  girls  can,  especially  if  they  are 
as  handsome  as  you  are.  Why  don't  you  marry  some 
rich  fellow,  and  go  to  the  city  to  live." 

"  That  looks  very  easy,  but  I'm  afraid  I  shall  never 
acquire  a  fortune  in  that  way." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"Well,"  said  Jessie,  "in  the  first  place,  I  am  "not 
likely  to  meet  any  rich  fellows — we  are  all  poor  at  the 
South  now.  In  the  second  place,  I  would  not  marry 
for  money." 

"  Why,  if  the  fellow  was  nice,  and  rich  fellows  usually 
are,  of  course  you  would  love  him." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  but  I'm  sure  I  shall  never 
marry  unless  I  truly  love,  and  I  shall  never  love  any 
man  unless  he  is  noble  and  good — splendidly  good. 
Then,  I  sha'n't  care  a  farthing  whether  he  is  rich  or 
not !  " 

"  What  a  funny  girl  you  are,"  said  Mrs.  Philip ; 
"  wouldn't  you  really  like  to  have  a  beautiful  house  in 
a  large  city  ?  " 

"  Perhaps ;  that  would  depend  on  a  great  many  other 
things  ;  but,  even  if  I  were  rich,  I  think  I  would  prefer 
to  have  a  home  in  the  country." 

"  Well,  wouldn't  you  like  beautiful  dresses  and  jewels 
like  mine  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  cared  much  about  such  things.  I  sup 
pose  I  might  learn  after  a  while  to  love  them  and  want 
them  as  other  women  do.  But  I  hope  not." 

"Why?  " — and  Mrs.  Philip  looked  at  her  companion 
intently,  as  if  she  were  some  new  specimen  of  girl 
hood. 

"  Percy,"  said  Jessie,  "  I  think  it  is  wrong  for  women 
to  care  so  much  for  dress  and  style.  It  makes  men 
sordid  and  eager  to  make  money." 


ttEDBANK.  143 

"  How  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Philip,  "  I  don't  understand." 

"  Dresses  often  cost  a  great  deal  of  money ;  men  wish 
to  give  their  wives  and  daughters  the  things  they  want 
— the  things  that  make  them  happy — and  so  their  lives 
are  spent  in  toiling  to  make  money." 

"  Well,"  answered  Percy,  "  what  else  is  there  to  toil 
for  ?  Every  man  wants  to  have  some  kind  of  business, 
and  of  course  he  wants  to  succeed  in  it,  and  success 
means  making  money." 

"  No,  no,"  exclaimed  Jessie,  flushed  and  excited, 
"  success  doesn't  mean  making  money." 

"  Then  what  does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  A  thousand  other  things,  far  better.  I  could  not 
tell  you — you  would  not  understand." 

"  I'm  not  so  stupid  as  you  imagine,"  said  Mrs.  Philip, 
somewhat  piqued  ;  "  I  can  understand  most  things  quite 
well :  tell  me  what  you  mean." 

"  To  make  millions  of  dollars  is  not  always  to  succeed 
in  life,"  said  Jessie,  very  quietly.  "  The  best  men  that 
have  ever  lived — the  men  who  have  done  the  most  for 
the  world — did  not  care  for  money  at  all.  They  worked 
for  something  far  better.  St.  Paul  did  not  care  for 
money ;  nor  Luther." 

"•  I  am  not  talking  about  those  people  who  lived  ever 
so  long  ago,"  replied  Mrs.  Philip ;  "  the  world  has 
changed  since  then ;  nowadays  every  man  wants  to 
make  a  fortune.  If  he  dies  poor,  he  is  considered  a 
failure." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  much  about  it,"  said  Jessie,  feel 
ing  how  hopeless  it  was  to  try  to  express  what  she  really 
meant,  "  but  I  believe  there  are  many  noble  men  in 
the  world  now,  who  are  doing  all  the  good  they  can 
without  any  thought  of  leaving  a  fortune  behind  them. 
I  know  money  is  a  good  thing  to  have — no  one  can  live 


144 

without  at  least  a  small  amount  of  it.  The  poor  mail 
works  for  it,  that  he  may  buy  bread  for  his  family.  It 
is  the  consuming  desire  to  make  millions  that  seems  so 
awful  to  me.  It  seems  to  destroy  a  man's  soul. — But, 
dear,  we  will  not  talk  about  it  anymore. — Tell  me  some; 
thing  about  yourself — your  life  at  home."  She  knew 
that  Mrs.  Philip  enjoyed  nothing  so  much  as  the  story 
of  her  past  triumphs.  Jessie  had  heard  it  all  often  be 
fore  ;  but  to-night  she  felt  content  to  listen  again,  rather 
than  talk  with  one  whose  thoughts  and  feelings  were 
not  in  harmony  with  her  own.  Percy  immediately  threw 
off  all  listlessness,  and  became  the  animated,  brilliant 
woman  of  the  world.  She  began  to  recount  her  delight 
ful  experience  at  balls,  masquerades,  and  operas.  She 
described  with  minutest  details  the  grand  receptions, 
the  magnificent  dresses,  the  costly  flowers.  On  her  pretty 
jeweled  fingers  she  counted  up  the  number  of  admirers 
that  she  had  had,  and  was  proud  to  declare  that  more 
than  one  had  been  quite  desperate  and  threatened  to  com 
mit  suicide  when  his  suit  had  been  rejected.  Finally, 
she  wound  up  by  rehearsing  the  scenes  of  her  wedding. 
There  had  never  been  anything  quite  equal  to  it  in  her 
native  city — two  thousand  guests  at  the  church  where 
the  ceremony  had  taken  place,  and  five  hundred  at  the 
reception  at  the  house,  which  had  lasted  three  or  four 
hours,  until  she  could  scarcely  stand  for  fatigue.  The 
banks  of  flowers  were  so  fragrant,  the  lights  were  so 
dazzling,  and  the  moving  crowd  produced  such  confusion 
in  her  tired  brain,  that  at  last  she  almost  fainted  on  her 
husband's  arms.  Here  she  always  paused, — that  sensa 
tion  of  faintness  on  the  arm  of  her  husband  in  her  bridal 
toilette,  in  the  full  blaze  of  chandeliers  and  the  fragrant 
atmosphere  of  flowers,  with  the  brilliant,  buzzing,  fash 
ionable  world  around,  was  just  too  delicious. 


EEDBANK.  145 

"  It  must  have  been  very  brilliant,"  said  Jessie,  "  but  I 
do  not  think  I  would  care  for  such  a  wedding  myself." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Philip. 

"  Well,  a  wedding  is  a  very  solemn  event,  like  a  relig 
ious  service,  and  I  am  afraid  I  would  have  my  thoughts 
dreadfully  distracted  by  the  presence  of  so  many  people. 
I  would  like  to  be  a  little  bit  conscious  of  what  I  was 
saying  and  doing." 

"  Oh ;  I  wasn't  frightened  in  the  least — I'm  not  one 
of  that  kind.  I've  been  in  society  ever  since  I  was  in 
long  clothes.  I  knew  perfectly  well  what  I  was  saying 
and  doing.  I  even  remembered  in  kneeling  not  to  crush 
the  orange-blossoms  that  caught  up  the  lace  on  the  front 
of  my  dress." 

"  You  must  have  been  self-possessed ;  I'm  afraid  I 
should  forget  all  about  the  orange-blossoms  and  the  dress 
too,"  said  Jessie,  laughing. 

"  Well,  I  didn't,  I  knew  perfectly  well  that  I  was 
going  to  wear  that  same  dress  at  my  reception  when  I 
returned  home,  and  I  didn't  want  to  muss  it  in  the  least. 
It  is  a  lovely  dress.  I  wish  you  could  see  it.  It  is  of 
cream  white  satin  almost  covered  with  white  Spanish 
lace,  caught  up  here  and  there  with  sprays  of  orange- 
blossom.  The  train  is  over  two  yards  long." 

"  You  must  have  looked  beautiful,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  you 
have  so  much  color  that  even  white  satin  would  be 
becoming.  I  have  heard  that  it  is  a  very  trying 
dress." 

"  Yes,  it  was  very  becoming  to  me  ;  the  papers  next 
day  were  quite  absurd.  They  said  that  I  was  the  most 
beautiful  bride  that  had  ever  been  seen  in  the  city.  I 
cut  out  the  pieces  ;  I  will  show  them  to  you  some  day." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  them,"  the  young  girl  answered. 

After   a   pause,    Percy   turned    and    said,    sharply  : 

10 


146  REDBANK. 

"  Do  you  really  mean  to  say  that  you  would  not  like 
a  splendid  wedding?  I  cannot  believe  you." 

"  Nevertheless,  it  is  true,"  replied  Jessie. 

"  Why  ?  "  demanded  Percy. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  why." 

"  But  that  is  no  reason  at  all." 

"  Well,"  said  Jessie,  after  a  few  moments'  thought, 
"  it  is  not  easy  to  explain  my  feelings — but  it  seems  to 
me  that  everything  about  a  marriage  is  uncertain  ;  you 
never  know  how  it  is  going  to  turn  out,  so  I  should 
prefer  to  be  very  quiet  about  it." 

"  I  don't  see  how  a  brilliant  wedding  could  make  a 
marriage  turn  out  badly,"  said  Percy. 

"  I  didn't  say  that — but,  if  it  did  happen  to  turn  out 
unhappily,  everybody  would  recall  the  great  display." 

"  Why,  Jessie  Holcombe,  you  are  a  regular  raven," 
exclaimed  Percy. 

Jessie  laughed.  "  I  only  mean  that  I  should  feel  so 
about  my  own  wedding— of  course,  not  about  other 
people's." 

"  You  must  be  very  superstitious,  then,"  said  Mrs. 
Philip,  with  a  touch  of  contempt  in  her  tone.  "  Well, 
I  always  wanted  a  stunning  affair  when  I  got  married, 
and  I  have  had  it.  Papa  gratified  every  wish  that  I 
expressed.  I  would  not  feel  married  at  all,  if  it  had 
been  done  in  a  quiet,  pokey  way.  I  shall  always  recall 
it  with  pleasure.  Besides,  when  I  go  back,  I  shall  be 
inundated  with  calls.  That  will  be  ever  so  nice." 

Just  then  Mr.  Philip  rapped  at  the  door.  "  I  have 
lost  my  little  wife,"  he  said  ;  "  is  she  in  here  ?  Come, 
my  darling,  it  is  time  to  go  to  bed." 

So  the  good-nights  were  exchanged. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ABOUT  ten  days  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Philip  Winston  at  Redbank,  Harry  Holcombe  made  his 
appearance  upon  the  scene.  One  morning  when  the 
family  assembled  in  the  dining-room  for  breakfast,  they 
found  him  standing  with  his  back  to  the  fire,  and  his 
hands  crossed  behind  him. 

He  was  looking  splendidly — as  if  he  had  come  fresh 
from  a  bath  in  the  fountain  of  eternal  youth.  His  thick 
curling  hair  was  tossed  up  carelessly,  and  his  heavy 
black  mustache  had  an  additional  and  most  fascinating 
twirl.  He  was  dressed  in  a  new  suit  of  dark-gray, 
which  recalled  his  military  days,  and  with  the  clothes 
he  seemed  to  have  put  on  the  old  dashing  manner. 

"  Why,  Harry !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Winston,  who  was 
the  first  to  see  him  ;  "  when  did  you  come  ?  " 

"  On  the  midnight  train,"  he  replied. 

"  But  the  midnight  train  certainly  does  not  come  as 
far  as  Redbank,"  she  said,  a  little  mystified. 

"  This  one  was  an  extra — a  special — a  chartered  car 
that  brought  me  to  the  very  door,"  he  answered,  with  a 
laugh. 

"  Ah  !  "  she  said,  and  then  was  silent.  She  did  not 
like  the  mysterious  air  with  which  Harry  surrounded 
all  his  actions. 

Lilian  was  overjoyed  to  see  him,  and  hung  about  him 
in  her  accustomed  affectionate  manner,  to  which  he 
warmly  responded,  pinching  her  ears,  kissing  her  cheeks 
and  calling  her  "  sweet  bird  "  and  "  dear  little  pig." 


148  REDBANK. 

Presently  he  caught  her  up  in  his  arms  for  a  long  hug. 
"  Sweeter  than  all  the  sugar  plums  in  the  world  ! "  he 
said,  biting  her  rosy  cheeks. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Uncle  Hal  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Everywhere,  Pet,  even  to  the  moon  and  the  evening 
star." 

"  I  don't  believe  that,"  she  cried,  "  you  are  an  old 
humbug."  She  always  called  him  by  this  name,  when 
she  was  clever  enough  to  discover  he  was  jesting. 

Soon  Jessie  appeared,  and  gave  him  a  very  kind 
greeting. 

"  How  well  you  are  looking,"  she  said. 

"  Am  I  ?  "  he  answered,  and  he  seemed  much  pleased 
to  receive  so  cordial  a  welcome  from  her.  "  Well,  I've 
been  having  a  splendid  time.  I  have  been  among  a  set 
who  appreciate  my  fine  qualities,  and  they  have  petted 
and  spoiled  me  to  my  heart's  content.  It  does  a  fellow 
good  sometimes  to  get  a  little  petting." 

Before  Jessie  could  reply,  Mr.  Philip  Winston  entered 
with  Percy,  the  beautiful,  radiant  Percy,  upon  his  arm. 
They  were  much  surprised  to  see  their  new  addition  to 
the  household.  The  introductions  were  made  in  proper 
form,  and  both  the  lady  and  the  gentleman  surveyed  the 
guest  with  curiosity  and  interest.  Mi's.  Philip  eyed 
him  with  her  well-bred  stare.  She  was  evidently  im 
pressed  with  his  appearance,  and  gave  him  her  hand 
with  a  gracious  smile.  Last  of  all,  the  Colonel  came 
in  ;  he,  too,  was  very  cordial,  and  complimented  Harry 
on  his  .good  looks.  These  kind  greetings  were  very 
gratifying  to  the  young  man,  and  he  expanded  into  his 
best  and  most  genial  self.  When  they  were  all  seated 
at  the  table,  the  Colonel  turned  to  him  and  said, 

"  Well,  now,  give  a  report  of  yourself.  Where  have 
you  been  ?  Whence  do  you  come  ?  " 


REDBANK.  149 

"  From  going  to  and  fro  on  the  earth,  and  from  walk- 
ing  up  and  down  in  it,"  was  the  ready  response. 

"  That  answer  won't  do,"  said  the  Colonel,  laughing ; 
"  it  is  altogether  too  suggestive  of  a  certain  evil-minded 
personage  whom  we  are  forbidden  to  mention  in  good 
society." 

"  Well,"  answered  Harry,  "  I've  been  to  visit  my  old 
Colonel — Colonel  Beaufort.  You  know  him,  I  reckon  ; 
he  lives  in  North  Carolina.  I've  had  an  invitation  of 
long  standing  to  make  him  a  visit,  and  I  concluded  to 
go  in  the  summer.  When  I  once  got  there,  he  would 
not  let  me  leave." 

«  Why,  yes,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel,  "  I  know  Stuart 
Beauior'j  (better  than  I  know  myself.  How  is  he  ?  " 

"  Just  a~,  jolly  as  ever,"  the  young  man  answered. 

"  Wha'j  is  he  doing  in  North  Carolina  ?  "  was  the  next 
question,, 

"Kb  wife  is  a  North  Carolinian,  and  she  owns  a 
large  plantation  near  Charlotte.  He  is  living  in  capital 
style — entertains  the  whole  United  States." 

"  Just  like  him,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  he  always  did 
have  the  biggest  heart  in  the  world.  But  that  kind  of 
hospitality  won't  do  for  these  days.  He'll  come  to 
grief,  certain,  if  he  keeps  it  up." 

"  I  reckon  not,"  Harry  replied ;  "  his  wife  is  very 
rich — has  no  end  of  stocks  at  the  North.  She  was  a 
great  heiress.  I  think  it's  a  clever  trick  for  a  fellow  to 
marry  an  heiress.  I  shall  try  it  myself  some  of  these 
days,  when  my  wild  oats  are  all  sown." 

Mr.  Philip  winced  a  little,  as  if  aware  that  some  mem 
bers  of  the  family  might  make  a  personal  application  of 
the  innocent  remark  to  himself.  Harry  went  on  eating 
his  breakfast,  perfectly  unconscious  that  he  had  touched 
a  weak  point  in  the  gentleman's  armor. 


150  REDBANK. 

"  By  that  time,"  said  the  Colonel,  dryly,  "  I'm  afraid 
there  won't  be  enough  of  you  left  for  any  girl  to 
marry." 

Harry  looked  up  at  him,  and  smiled — "  That's  one  of 
your  mistakes.  My  heart  is  so  perfectly  immense  that 
no  prodigality  can  exhaust  its  power  of  loving." 

This  gay  badinage  was  just  the  kind  of  talk  that  Mrs. 
Philip  liked,  and  her  brown  eyes  expressed  a  lively 
interest  in  the  young  man  who  was  evidently  a  master 
of  the  tongue.  He  caught  her  looking  at  him,  and 
dared  address  a  question  to  her. 

"  How  do  you  like  the  Sunny  South,  Mrs.  Winston  ? 
It  is  easy  to  see  that  you  are  not  a  native." 

"  I  am  perfectly  in  love  with  it,"  she  exclaimed  with 
pretty  enthusiasm,  "  only  I'm  not  quite  sure  that  it  de 
serves  its  name.  We  havo  had  two  days  of  rain  since 
our  arrival.  But  how  can  you  tell  that  I'm  not  a 
native  ?  " 

"  It  wouldn't  answer  for  me  to  say,"  he  replied,  with 
a  laugh.  "  My  acquaintance  with  you  is  altogether  too 
short  for  such  confidences." 

Of  course  something  complimentary  was  meant ;  she 
smiled  consciously. 

"  Which  means  you  may  possibly  tell  me  some  time 
in  the  future  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Perhaps,"  he  answered  ;  "  but  I'm  sure  your  curi 
osity  is  only  a  transient  emotion." 

"  No,  it  isn't.  My  curiosity  is  a  very  permanent  emo 
tion.  Isn't  it,  Philip  ?  " 

"  Indeed  it  is,"  answered  that  gentleman.  "  Some 
times  I  think  it  is  the  only  thing  that  holds  you  together 
— the  centre  of  gravity,  you  know." 

She  laughed  gayly  and  said,  "  I'm  learning  to  bear 
disparagement  from  you  very  bravely." 


EEDBANK.  151 

"  Disparagement !  "  lie  cried  ;  "  I'm  as  innocent  as  a 
lamb  of  any  intention  to  disparage.  I  am  only  stating 
a  plain  fact." 

"  With  great  exaggeration,"  she  said,  emphatically  : 
"  you  are  entirely  too  old  to  exaggerate  as  you  do — that 
is  the  fault  of  children." 

Mr.  Philip  flushed  slightly  ;  he  did  not  like  to  be  re 
minded  that  he  was  no  longer  young.  She  saw  the 
heightened  color,  and  was  glad  to  tease  him  a  little. 

"  How  absurdly  sensitive  you  are  about  your  age.  It  is 
simply  ridiculous  in  a  man.  Now  I  like  your  mature 
beauty.  I  never  could  have  married  a  very  young  man." 

"  Do  all  the  ladies  where  you  came  from  feel  the  same 
way  ?  "  asked  Harry. 

"  Yes,"  she  said ;  "  why  ?  " 

"  Because  I'm  thinking  of  going  there  to  settle." 

"  Do ! "  she  exclaimed ;  "  I'm  sure  you  will  like  it. 
It  is  a  wonderful  city,  and  growing  so  fast  it  almost 
takes  away  your  breath." 

•    "  But  first  I  must  find  out, some  way  of  imparting  a 
touch  of  maturity  to  my  charms." 

"  Ah,  that's  easy  enough  !  " 

"How?" 

"Buy  a  gray  wig.  It  will  be  awfully  becoming." 
They  both  laughed. 

The  Colonel  was  getting  tired  of  this  dialogue  ;  he 
put  an  end  to  it  by  saying,  "  Philip,  I  want  you  to  ride 
with  me  this  morning.  1  am  going  over  the  creek  to 
see  those  fields  where  the  negroes  have  just  finished  pick 
ing  cotton.  The  yield  has  disappointed  me.  I  want  to 
see  if  I  can  find  out  what's  the  matter." 

"  The  negroes  have  probably  been  stealing  it,"  said 
Mr.  Philip  ;  "  I'll  be  very  glad  to  go  with  you.  What 
time  will  you  start  ?  " 


152  REDBANK. 

"  Directly  we  are  through  breakfast."    . 

"  Colonel,"  said  Percy,  "  you  are  very  cruel  to  carry 
him  off  somewhere  eveiy  day.  I  scarcely  ever  see  him 
from  breakfast  till  lunch." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  are  you  not  glad  to  have  him  out  of 
the  house  ?  "  replied  the  Colonel.  "  You  would  not  like 
to  see  him  sitting  around  all  the  time  admiring  you, 
would  you  ?  " 

"  Decidedly  not,"  she  answered,  quickly  ;  "  but " 

she  hesitated  a  moment. 

"  But  what,  my  dear?  "  asked  Mr.  Philip. 

She  looked  into  his  face,  smiled  and  said,  "  Sometimes 
I'm  just  a  little  lonely;  everybody  else,  you  know,  is 
busy." 

"  Then  you  must  learn  to  be  busy,  too,"  the  husband 
replied. 

"  About  what  ?  "  she  asked,  innocently. 

"  I  don't  know — make  me  a  pair  of  pants,"  he  said, 
breaking  into  a  laugh. 

"  You  dreadful  man !  "  she  cried  ;  "  I  would  not  make 
you  a  pair  of  pants — I  would  riot  even  try  to  make  you 
a  pair,  if  you  had  nothing  to  wear,  and  there  was  not  a 
single  tailor  in  the  world."  Everybody  joined  in  the 
laughter. 

"  Then,  my  dear,  I  would  petition  the  courts  for  an 
immediate  divorce,"  said  Mr.  Philip.  "  Well,  accept 
another  suggestion,"  he  continued ;  "  sew  on  some 
buttons  for  me,  mend  my  gloves,  darn  my  stockings. 
There's  lots  to  be  done,  if  you  will  only  look  into  my 
trunk." 

"  I  don't  know  how  to  do  such  things,"  she  answered, 
carelessly ;  "  I  don't  believe  I  have  a  needle  in  the 
world." 


REDBANK.  153 

"  Miss  Holcombe  will  lend  you  one,  I'm  sure,"  said 
the  husband. 

"  Perhaps  she  will  sew  on  the  buttons,  also,  and  mend 
the  gloves  ?  "  the  young  wife  ventured  to  say,  looking 
at  Jessie. 

"  No,  thank  you,"  replied  Miss  Holcombe  ;  "  my  serv 
ices  are  not  for  hire  ;  not  even  when  the  cause  is  that 
of  neglected  husbands." 

"  There,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Philip,  nodding  signifi 
cantly  at  his  wife,  "  it  won't  do  to  jest  with  Miss  Hol 
combe." 

"  Jessie  is  like  a  flash  of  lightning,"  exclaimed  Harry. 
"  You  must  look  out  or  you  will  be  struck  dead." 

"  At  home  that's  the  popular  impression  of  all  South 
erners,"  the  lady  answered. 

"  Yes,  we  are  kegs  of  powder  ;  a  spark  of  fire  will  set 
us  off  in  a  minute.  I  wonder  you  ventured  to  come 
among  us.  It  shows  that  you  have  a  veiy  brave  heart." 

"  Perhaps  it  only  shows  that  I  do  not  share  the  pop 
ular  impression.  For  my  part,  I  like  Southerners 
immensely." 

Harry  Holcombe  bowed  : — "  Allow  me  to  return  a 
vote  of  thanks  for  the  whole  company  here  assembled. 
It  is  very  gratifying  to  see  that  you  appreciate  our  good 
qualities.  It  fills  my  bosom  with  patriotic  pride."  He 
laid  his  hand  impressively  upon  his  heart. 

"  What  an  orator  you  are  ! "  cried  Mrs.  Philip. 

"Do  you  think  so?  I  have  sometimes  suspected  as 
much  myself,  but  Redbank  is  a  very  bad  place  for 
developing  latent  talents.  Occasionally  one  is  sat  down 
upon.  The  truth  is  there  are  several  wits  in  our 
family.  Have  you  discovered  the  fact  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  I  have.  If  you  were  all  to  go  to 
Boston,  you  would  be  famous  in  a  week." 


154  REDBANK. 

"  That's  just  my  opinion,"  returned  Harry.  "  I'm 
thinking  a  little  of  leading  the  way.  Won't  you  give 
me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  somebody  of  note  at  the 
'  Hub.'  Some  literary  character  you  know  ?  " 

The  lady  laughed.  "  I'm  not  from  Boston ;  even  if  I 
were,  I'm  afraid  I  would  not  be  acquainted  in  that  set." 

"  I'm  awfully  sorry,  because  that's  the  set  most  to  my 
taste — any  success  I  achieve  in  life  must  be  made  in 
that  line  of  work.  I'm  great  on  an  after-dinner  speech, 
especially  if  champagne  has  flowed  freely." 

This  was  a  little  too  near  the  mark  to  suit  either 
Eleanor  or  Jessie.  "  Harry,"  said  the  latter,  "  do  stop 
your  nonsense.  What  will  Mrs.  Winston  think  of 
Southern  gentlemen?  She  will  be  making  contrasts 
and  reaching  dreadful  conclusions." 

"  Don't  be  alarmed  about  her  conclusions,"  said  Mr. 
Philip,  dryly.  "  She  has  a  very  illogical  mind." 

"All  women  have,"  Percy  replied;  "that's  what 
makes  them  so  charming — they  cannot  argue." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  there,"  said  her  husband.  "  I 
think  most  of  them  can  argue  ad  infinitum" 

"  I  mean  they  do  not  argue  logically,  they  only  jump 
at  conclusions,  and  I  believe  that  men  generally  con 
sider  their  conclusions  very  absurd." 

"  Yes,"  her  husband  answered  quickly.  "  I  know 
one  whose  conclusions  are  almost  always  very  absurd." 

"  Which,  according  to  her  statement,  is  the  secret  of 
her  being  so  charming,"  said  the  Colonel ;  "  but  we 
have  had  nonsense  enough  now." 

He  pushed  his  chair  back  from  the  table,  and  they  all 
got  up.  Eleanor  turned  to  Harry,  as  he  was  about  to 
leave  the  dining-room,  and  said  : 

"  I  wish  you  would  go  out  this  morning  and  kill  some 
partridges  for  us ;  we  have  not  had  any  this  fall  and 


EEDBANK.  155 

Peyton  says  the  fields  and  woods  are  swarming  with 
them." 

"  All  right ;  I  will  go  immediately  and  hunt  up  the 
dogs.  I'm  afraid  my  gun  needs  cleaning,  but  I  reckon 
I  can  manage  Avith  it  this  morning." 

"  Well,  I  rely  upon  you  for  a  game-course  at  dinner." 

"All  right,"  he  again  replied. 

When  they  found  themselves  upon  the  piazza,  they 
paused  a  moment,  and  then  paired  off.  The  Colonel 
and  Mr.  Philip  lighted  their  cigars,  and  strolled  down  to 
the  stables.  Jessie  and  Lilian  went  to  the  hammock,  and 
the  child  was  soon  laughing  merrily  as  she  swung  back 
and  forth.  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  and  Harry  Holcombe 
by  some  subtle  attraction  moved  off  together,  and  sought 
a  distant  corner  where  the  sunshine  fell  warm  and  bright. 
Here  they  stood,  leaning  on  the  balustrade,  chatting  and 
jesting  and  dallying  for  more  than  an  hour.  Percy  was 
in  her  element,  she  had  at  length  found  an  admirer,  for 
the  gentleman's  gaze  was  full  of  admiration,  and  his 
tongue  only  too  ready  to  fashion  the  delicate  compli 
ments  that  she  loved.  She  was  certainly  a  charming 
creature  to  look  at  as  she  stood  there  in  the  sunlight, 
turning  her  pretty  head  from  side  to  side,  and  smiling 
her  arch  little  smiles.  She  was  dressed  in  a  negliyg 
costume  of  pale  blue  cashmere  with  puffings  of  silk  and 
jabots  of  white  lace.  Nothing  could  have  been  more 
becoming. 

Harry  had  never  seen  a  creature  quite  so  bewitching, 
and,  minute  by  minute,  was  falling  more  hopelessly 
under  the  spell  of  her  fascination.  He  felt  almost  pow 
erless  to  break  away.  At  last,  Eleanor  came  out  of  the 
dining-room,  where  she  had  been  reading  the  news 
papers,  and  joined  them. 

"  What,  Harry  !  not  gone  yet  ?  "  she  exclaimed;  "  I'm 


156  KEDBANK. 

afraid  the  game-course  will  be  wanting  on  our  bill  of 
fare  this  evening." 

"  Not  if  I  can  help  it,"  he  answered,  "  there's  time 
enough.  Where  are  all  the  dogs  ? " — and  he  strolled 
down  the  front  steps,  and  began  to  whistle.  Soon 
Beppo,  his  favorite  pointer,  answered  to  the  call,  arid 
then  the  gentleman  went  off  to  hunt  up  his  gun  and 
game-bag  and  to  change  his  clothes  for  high  boots  and 
a  shooting  jacket.  Presently,  he  was  equipped,  and 
waving  a  graceful  adieu  to  the  ladies,  he  started  off 
towards  the  woods.  Mrs.  Winston  and  Percy  stood  on 
the  piazza  and  watched  him  until  he  disappeared  from 
sight. 

"  Your  brother  is  perfectly  splendid,"  said  the  latter; 
"  I've  lost  my  heart." 

"  I  didn't  know  you  had  any  of  your  own  to  lose," 
replied  Eleanor ;  "  Harry's  a  sad  flirt — you  must  look 
out  for  him." 

"Oh!  I'm  up  to  all  that,"  said  Percy;  "don't  be 
afraid  for  me — I've  flirted  ever  since  I  was  out  of  baby- 
clothes." 

"But  now  you  are  married,  it  is  time  to  stop,"  re 
turned  the  elder  lady. 

"  Why  ? — It  is  perfectly  harmless,  isn't  it  ? — and  it's 
such  fun." 

"  It  is  not  always  perfectly  harmless,  my  dear ;  and 
your  husband  may  not  like  it.  I  am  afraid  you  have 
not  yet  realized  what  a  very  serious  thing  it  is  to  be 
married." 

Percy  was  quiet  for  a  few  moments,  as  if  she  were 
busy  thinking,  then  she  said :  "  You  are  right.  It 
seemed  perfectly  splendid  to  buy  a  magnificent  trous 
seau,  and  to  have  a  stunning  wedding  ;  but  it  has  been 
rather  dull  ever  since." 


REDBANK.  157 

"  You  ought  to  have  something  to  do,  Percy,"  said 
Mrs.  Winston ;  "  I  hope  when  you  return  home  you 
will  not  board.  Philip  must  take  a  house,  and  then  you 
will  find  plenty  to  occupy  your  time." 

"  I  would  like  that  exceedingly ;  I  have  so  many 
lovely  friends,  and  could  give  charming  entertainments." 
Percy  paused  a  while,  and  then  continued  :  "  But  do 
you  know,  I  don't  believe  that  Philip  cares  for  society. 
If  he  does  not,  it  will  break  my  heart." 

Eleanor  laughed.  "  Don't  talk  about  broken  hearts  ; 
I  hope,  dear,  that  yours  may  never  have  even  a  little 
ache." 

"  I  hope  so  too,"  said  the  young  creature.  "  Mamma, 
my  step-mother,  I  mean,  used  to  say,  that  I  did  not  have 
enough  of  a  heart  to  break  or  even  to  ache  ;  but  she  is 
a  horrid,  spiteful  thing,  and  wanted  me  married,  dread 
fully.  How  she  does  manage  papa !  It's  a  perfect 
shame." 

No  more  was  said,  but  Eleanor  went  off  to  her  morn 
ing  duties  with  a  new  thought.  This,  then,  was  the 
secret  of  the  marriage,  hitherto  so  inexplicable  to  her. 
The  clever  step-mother  had  married  off  the  pretty  step 
daughter  who  was  in  her  way.  Philip,  old  and  wary  as 
he  was,  had  allowed  himself  to  be  fascinated  by  youth, 
beaut}'  and  wealth,  and  Percy  had  been  captivated  by 
the  fine  manners  of  a  thorough  man  of  the  world. 
Eleanor  felt  a  vague  apprehension  about  the  future  of 
this  newly-wedded  pair. 

Marriage  is  not  altogether  clear  sailing,  even  when 
the  sea  is  calm,  the  ship  sea-worthy ;  and  the  crew  loyal 
and  well-trained.  Sudden  gales  will  spring  up  in  the 
most  unexpected  manner.  But  when  the  ship  has  a 
leak  at  the  start,  and  the  crew  cannot  be  trusted,  there 
is  indeed  danger  of  a  wreck  before  the  voyage  is  over. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  acquaintance  between  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  and 
Harry  Holcombe  advanced  with  rapid  strides.  Morn 
ing  after  morning,  they  lounged  for  hours  on  the  piazza 
in  the  warm  sunshine,  and  chatted  in  that  familiar 
fashion  which  indicates  perfect  understanding  and  sym 
pathy.  Mr.  Philip  Winston  quietly  ignored  the  grow 
ing  intimacy.  He  had  that  grand  manner  that  always 
seems  to  look  over  the  heads  of  others.  He  appeared 
scarcely  to  see  either  Harry  or  Percy.  Ever  since  his 
arrival  at  Redbank  he  had  treated  his  beautiful  bride 
with  the  well-bred  indifference  which  is  considered  good 
form  in  fashionable  societ}^.  He  seemed  to  find  all  the 
entertainment  and  happiness  his  soul  desired  in  the 
companionship  of  his  brother.  Together,  they  rode, 
walked,  talked,  and  smoked ;  the  affairs  of  the  planta 
tion  apparently  absorbed  them  both.  Percy,  poor  child, 
had  been  left  to  her  own  devices  to  find  amusement  in 
some  shape  for  herself.  Unfortunately,  her  resources 
were  meagre,  and,  during  the  long  days,  she  had  suf 
fered  much  from  ennui,  but  she  had  borne  it  without 
complaint.  Now,  at  length,  there  was  some  one  else, 
idle  as  herself — some  one  who  was  willing  to  give  her  a 
little  attention,  and  assist  her  in  killing  time.  Can  we 
wonder  that  she  welcomed  this  knight  ? — that  she  had 
a  smile  and  a  beckoning  gesture  for  him  whenever  he 
appeared  in  sight? 

When  the  Colonel  and  his  brother  had  ridden  off 


11EDBANK.  159 

after  breakfast,  and  all  the  other  members  of  the  family 
were  busy  with  the  tasks  of  the  day,  these  two  idlers 
would  resume  the  thread  of  their  flirtation. 

One  morning,  sweet  and  summery  as  June,  Mrs. 
Philip  was  sitting  on  the  piazza  in  an  easy-chair, 
looking  delightfully  comfortable  and  happy.  Lilian  and 
the  baby  were  at  play  in  a  distant  corner  of  the  yard,  and 
she  was  getting  an  insipid  kind  of  entertainment  from 
watching  them.  Mr.  Holcombe  had  not  made  his 
appearance  at  the  breakfast  table,  and  she  was  wonder 
ing  what  was  the  matter.  No  one  had  seemed  to  notice 
his  absence,  and  she  had  wisely  decided  to  ask  no  ques 
tions.  Suddenly  she  gave  a  little  start,  and  adjusted 
her  dress  in  more  graceful  folds.  There  he  was  ! — com 
ing  up  the  avenue  with  two  or  three  dogs  behind  him, 
and  his  gun  carelessly  slung  over  his  shoulder.  He  had 
been  out  hunting  then  ;  he  had  not  gone  off  to  parts 
unknown.  As  he  approached  the  house,  he  called  a 
little  negro  boy  to  come  arid  carry  his  well-filled  game- 
bag  to  the  kitchen.  Then  he  lounged  up  the  steps  of 
the  piazza,  and  threw  himself  lazily  down  in  a  chair  near 
her. 

"  Where  have  you  been  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Philip — "  you 
look  tired." 

"  Out  hunting,"  he  replied ;  "  I  like  to  go  out  early 
in  the  morning,  when  everything  is  fresh." 

"  Where  did  you  get  your  breakfast  ?  "  asked  the  lady, 
— "  you  were  not  at  the  table  this  morning." 

ki  Thank  you  for  missing  me.  I  did  not  get  any 
breakfast.  I  did  not  want  any.  I  have  been  feeding 
on  the  nectar  and  ambrosia  of  my  thoughts," — he  said, 
looking  at  her,  and  smiling. 

"  Then  you  must  be  awfully  hungry  now ;  do  go 
and  get  something  to  eat." 


160  HEDBANK. 

"  Don't  trouble  your  tender  little  heart  about  me," 
he  answered ;  "  I'm  so  comfortable  that  I  could  not  be 
hired  to  stir.  The  thought  of  bread  and  meat  does  not 
tempt  me.  Man  does  not  live  by  bread  alone." 

"  Hush  !  "  she  said,  with  a  little  laugh ;  "  you  must 
not  be  so  wicked  as  to  quote  Scripture." 

"I  thought  that  it  was  written  especially  for  the 
wicked,"  he  replied,  joining  in  her  laugh. 

"  Well,  we  won't  argue  about  it  now.  Tell  me  what 
success  you  have  had.  How  many  birds  did  you 
kill?" 

"  Twenty-five  and  two  rabbits  ;  the  game  is  amazingly 
plentiful,  but  it  is  rather  tiresome  to  go  hunting  all 
alone.  I'm  a  confounded  sociable  fellow,  and  am 
always  longing  for  companionship." 

"  Why  don't  you  invite  the  -Colonel  or  Philip  to 
accompany  you  on  your  hunts  ?  " 

"Because  they  would  be  far  more  likely  to  shoot 
themselves  or  me  than  to  shoot  anything  else.  Whew  ! 
they  look  down  upon  sport  from  an  Olympian 
height." 

"  I  observe  that  they  are  very  willing  to  eat  the  game 
when  it  comes  on  the  table." 

"  Yes,  that's  human  nature  ;  but  their  time  is  far  too 
valuable  to  be  spent  in  killing  it." 

"  Do  tell  me,"  she  inquired,  "  what  is  it  that  they  do, 
day  after  day  ?  They  ride  off,  or  walk  off,  and  talk,  and 
talk,  as  if  very  important  business  was  on  hand,  but  one 
can't  make  out  what  it's  all  about." 

"  That's  the  sacred  truth,"  he  answered,  "  they  both 
consider  me  a  good-for-nothing  fellow,  hardly  worth  the 
powder  and  shot  it  would  take  to  shoot  me,  and  yet 
when  I  go  off  I  do  bring  home  a  bag  full  of  game.  I  trulv 
believe,  if  I  were  married  I  could  support  myself  and 


REDKANK.  161 

my  wife  with  that  old  shot  gun.  Wouldn't  it  be  jolly, 
living  down  here  in  these  swamps  in  a  little  log  cabin, 
and  eating  nothing  but  game  ?  " 

"  Awfully  jolly  !  "  she  answered. 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  a  woman  in  the  world  who 
would  share  such  a  lot?"  he  asked. 

"  I'm  afraid  not,"  she  said,  -shaking  her  head. 

"Not  if  I  allowed  her  to  accompany  me  on  the 
hunts?" 

"  Well,  that  might  furnish  a  little  excitement,  but 
scarcely  enough  to  satisfy  any  woman  that  I  know. 
They  may  be  different  down  here.  Do  tell  me,"  she 
asked,  after  a  little  pause,  "  why  you  find  hunting  so 
fascinating  ?  It  seems  very  cruel  to  me." 

"  Yes,  it  is  perhaps,  when  one  stops  to  think  about 
it,"  he  answered.  "  I  suppose  it  must  be  because  we  all 
have  some  of  the  blood  of  that  old  savage  ourang-outang 
ancestor  still  flowing  in  our  veins,  and  now  and  then  the 
impulse  to  kill  seizes  us.  I  frankly  acknowledge  that 
I'm  a  savage — just  about  as  hopeless  a  specimen  as  can 
be  found  anywhere,  whether  it's  in  Africa,  or  New 
Guinea,  or  the  South  Sea  Islands.  The  truth  is,  there 
are  lots  of  heathen  down  here,  Mrs.  Winston.  There's 
'plenty  of  room  for  missionary  work.  Don't  you  want 
to  embark  in  it  ?  " 

Percy  smiled  and  said,  "  I'm  afraid  it  is  not  my 
vocation." 

"  Suppose  you  try  and  see,"  he  replied ;  "  you  may 
stumble  upon  an  unknown  talent.  I'm  an  excellent 
subject  for  beginning  your  experiments  on.  Shall  I 
give  you  a  list  of  my  vices  in  order  to  prove  how  great 
is  my  need  of  missionary  effort  ?  " 

"  Do  !  "  she  exclaimed  ;  "  it  will  be  very  amusing." 

"  Well,  first  of  all,  I'm  dreadfully  idle." 

11 


162  EEDBANK. 

"  So  am  I — I'm  afraid  I  could  not  undertake  to  cure 
you  of  that  fault." 

"  Without  first  curing  yourself,"  he  said,  with  a  laugh. 

"  That  would  be  impossible,"  she  replied,  u  it  is  in 
born,  engrained,  a  part  of  my  very  self.  It  would  be 
necessary  to  annihilate  me  before  you  could  get  rid  of 
it.  But  what's  next  on  the  list  ?  " 

"  Then  I'm  extravagant ;  the  very  worst  sin  in  the 
world  to  be  joined  with  laziness." 

"  Why,  that's  another  of  my  faults,"  she  said,  break 
ing  into  a  merry  laugh.  "  What  next  ?  " 

"  Thirdly,  I'm  puffed  up  with  vanity  and  conceit — so 
some  people  think." 

"  Well,  so  am  I,"  exclaimed  Percy,  with  another  peal 
of  laughter;  "I  cannot  attempt  to  cure  you  of  that 
either." 

"  Fourthly," — and  here  Harry  paused  a  moment, 
"  I'm  an  awful  flirt." 

"  And  so  am  I." 

He  looked  at  her  intently. 

"  It  seems  to  me  we  are  very  much  alike  ;  I  have 
never  before  met  a  person  so  completely  the  counter 
part  of  myself.  But  let  me  go  on  with  the  faults.  I 
was  at  fifthly,  wasn't  I  ? "  She  laughed  and  nodded 
her  head.  He  was  really  a  very  entertaining  fellow. 

"  Well,  fifthly,  I  am  very  fond  of  my  own  way. 
'When  I  make  up  my  mind  to  do  a  thing,  there's  no 
power  under  heaven  that  can  turn  me." 

"  Just  the  same  with  me." 

"  Then,  sixthly,"  continued  Harry,  "  I'm  awfully 
fond  of  display  and  style  and  all  kinds  of  fiddlesticks." 

"  So  am  I !  "  she  again  exclaimed. 

"  Seventhly,  I'm  fond  of  filthy  lucre — I  would  like  a 
purse  so  long  that  there  was  no  bottom  to  it." 


REDBANK.  163 

«  So  would  I !  " 

They  both  laughed  heartily  as  if  they  found  the 
recital  very  amusing.  Soon  she  said,  "  There,  I  think 
the  catalogue  is  long  enough  now  ;  you  may  stop." 

"  I  am  glad  you  permit  me  to  pause,  for  it  is  some 
what  fatiguing;  but  I  assure  you  that  I  could  go  on 
forever,  like  Tennyson's  brook." 

"  Please  don't,"  she  entreated,  "  I  am  convinced  of 
your  benighted  condition,  and  my  own  too." 

"  I  hope  you  are  also  convinced  that  our  souls  are 
cast  in  somewhat  the  same  .noble  mould.  We  ought 
to  be  good  friends." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that,"  was  her  reply  ;  "  it  is  said 
that  opposites  attract." 

"  Opposition  of  character,  but  similarity  of  taste." 

"Well,  is  it  the  characters  or  the  tastes  that  are  alike 
here  ?  "  she  asked  ;  "  I  confess  I  can't  make  it  out." 

"  I  must  get  a  slate  and  pencil  to  find  that  out,"  he 
said,  with  a  light  laugh.  "Whenever  I'm  in  doubt 
about  a  thing,  I  go  to  algebra,  and  say,  let  x  represent 
the  unknown  quantity.  One  can  find  out  anything  that 
way." 

"  Except  a  woman's  meaning,"  she  said. 

"  Except  a  woman's  meaning  !  "  he  echoed,  and  then 
they  were  both  silent. 

"  How  delicious  this  sunshine*  is  ! "  she  exclaimed 
after  a  while  ;  "  I  would  like  to  bottle  some  of  it  up,  and 
send  it  to  my  friends  at  home.  People  rave  over  Italy, 
but  I'm  sure  it  is  no  better  than  this." 

"  Have  you  been  there  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  twice.  The  first  time,  I  did  not  like  it  at  all. 
It  was  in  winter,  and  the  weather  was  very  wet  and 
cold.  We  spent  most  of  the  time  in  Florence  and  Rome, 
and  I  assure  you  we  came  near  freezing.  The  last  time, 


164  REDKANK. 

it  was  spring,  and  we  went  through  Southern  Italy 
and  down  to  Sicily.  That  was  delicious.  Mamma — • 
step-mamma,  I  mean," — and  she  laughed,  "  said  I  liked 
it  because  there  were  several  young  gentlemen  in  our 
part}^.  She  even  accused  me  of  flirting  in  the  streets  of 
Pompeii,  but  I  assure  you  it  was  a  libellous  attack  on  my 
character.  You  would  not  believe  such  a  thing  of  me, 
would  you  ?  " 

"  By  no  means  !  "  he  replied,  "  I  hope  you  prosecuted 
her,  and  recovered  damages." 

"  No,  I'm  not  vindictive,"  she  laughingly  answered. 
"  I  left  her  to  be  punished  by  her  own  conscience." 

"  Tell  me  something  more  about  Italy,"  he  said. 

"  There  is  nothing  to  tell,"  she  replied — "  I  hate  trav 
elling  and  sight-seeing.  One  has  to  tramp  around  until 
one  is  tired  to  death,  and  poke  into  old  holes  and  cellars, 
and  keep  up  a  perpetual  scream — '  Oh  !  how  beauti 
ful  ! '  I  cannot  tell  you  how  glad  I  was  to  get  back  to 
Paris  ! " 

"  And  what  did  you  enjoy  so  much  in  Paris  ?  " 

"  Everything  ;  but  especially  the  shops  and  the  drives 
in  the  Bois.  You  ought  to  go  there.  I  know  you 
would  like  it." 

He  smiled,  and  said,  "  I  don't  doubt  it  in  the  least  ; 
perhaps,  I  will  go,  when  I  marry  my  heiress." 

"  You  had  better  go  there  to  find  her.  The  city  is 
perfectly  infested  with  wealthy  foreigners.  Everybody 
goes  there  who  wants  to  have  a  good  time.  One  sees 
swarms  of  American  girls,  and  many  of  them  are  beau 
tiful  !  Do  you  know  that  the  American  girls  are  now 
considered  the  most  beautiful  in  the  world  ?  " 

"  That  is  just  my  opinion,"  said  the  gentleman. 
"  The  most  beautiful  woman  I  ever  saw  is  an  Ameri 
can." 


REVBANK.  165 

"  Who  is  she  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Philip.  "  Where  does 
she  live  ?  How  I  would  like  to  see  her  ! " 

"  Well,  at  present,  she  is  not  very  far  from  an  old 
plantation  house  in  the  State  of  Georgia." 

"  You  are  a  dreadful  flatterer,"  exclaimed  the  lady, 
with  a  conscious  blush. 

"  Why,  I  have  not  spoken  one  word  of  flattery," 
replied  the  gentleman,  very  innocently. 

"  But  your  meaning  was  evident  enough." 

"  I  am  glad  you  can  read  my  meaning  so  well,"  he 
said,  looking  at  her  fixedly  from  under  his  half-closed 
lids. 

"  Do  you  know  you  have  a  real  military  air,"  she 
said  to  him,  after  quite  a  long  break  in  the  conversation. 
"  To  look  at  you,  I  would  think  that  you  were  an  officer 
in  the  army." 

"  I  was  once,"  he  replied,  "  but  that  was  long  ago — in 
the  hoary  past." 

"  Did  you  like  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Immensely  ;  it  is  the  only  profession  that  I  would 
care  to  follow.  It  suits  me  exactly,  for  my  temperament 
is  spasmodic.  The  truth  is,  I'm  seriously  thinking  of 
offering  my  valuable  military  services  to  one  of  the 
despots  of  the  Old  World — the  Czar  or  the  Sultan,  for 
instance  ;  only  I  would  want  a  staff  appointment,  and 
that  might  be  a  little  hard  to  get.  I'm  beginning  to 
doubt  my  capacity  for  active  service — I  fear  I'm  rather 
played  out,  and  will  have  to  take  things  easy  for  the 
brief  remainder  of  life.  Nothing  now  suits  me  so  well 
as  a  hammock  in  the  sunshine.  I'm  afraid  that  the 
most  eventful  period  of  existence  is  past  for  me.  If  I 
were  a  Frenchman,  I  would  try  to  get  a  snug  little  cor 
ner  in  the  Hotel  des  Invalides.^ 

"What    an    absurd   fellow   you    are!"    cried   Mrs. 


166  REtiBANK. 

Philip,  laughing  at  his  soliloquy.  "  You  are  not  much 
over  twenty,  I'm  sure,  and  yet,  to  hear  you  talk,  one 
would  imagine  you  were  in  the  nineties." 

"  True,"  he  said  ;  "  but  my  years  have  been  long. 
That  makes  the  difference  between  you  and  me.  Your 
years  have  been  all  summers,  and  mine  all  winters,  and 
I  suppose  fate  has  just  the  same  in  store  for  me  in  the 
future."  He  lay  back  in  the  easy-chair,  and  twirled 
his  mustache  as  if  it  did  not  much  matter — the  sunshine 
just  then  was  so  warm,  and  the  lady  opposite  so  con 
foundedly  pretty  ! 

"  I  hope  not,"  she  answered,  putting  a  little  tender 
ness  into  her  tone. 

"  If  my  hard  lot  excites  your  pity,  I  am  content  to 
bear  it,"  he  said,  with  a  mock-heroic  air. 

"  Now,  don't  begin  to  talk  nonsense  !  "  the  lady  ex 
claimed  ;  "  you  know  perfectly  well  that  you  don't  care 
a  fig  for  ladies  ;  they  have  never  entered  at  all  into  your 
thoughts." 

"  Not  until  recently,"  he  remarked  ;  "  I  confess  they 
have  always  floated  before  my  eyes  like  airy  nothings ; 
but  now  I  am  beginning  to  look  at  them  a  little  more 
seriously — at  least  one  of  them.  You  know  I  am  still 
very  young." 

"  How  perfectly  inconsistent  you  are  !  "  she  said  ;  "  a 
moment  ago,  you  were  very  old — at  least  ninety-nine, 
and  now  you  are  in  your  teens,  and  as  innocent  as  a 
school-girl.  Really,  you  amuse  me  very  much.  I  have 
never  seen  anybody  like  you,  before  ! " 

"  And  are  you  fond  of  novelties  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Why  do  you  wish  to  know  ?  " 

"  Because  then  I  might  be  able  to  guess  your  opinion 
of  a  "certain  poor  fellow  in  whom  I'm  a  little  inter 
ested." 


167 

"  I'm  afraid  he  would  not  care  for  my  opinion,  so  I 
will  leave  both  you  and  him  in  the  dark." 

"  There  you  are  mistaken,"  he  answered  ;  "  your  opin 
ion  would  weigh  against  that  of  the  whole  round 
world." 

"  You  can  talk  more  nonsense  than  any  fellow  I  ever 
met,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  laugh. 

"  And  do  you  like  nonsense  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It  is  the  only  kind  of  sense  I  do  like,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  Then  I  shall  talk  it  forever  and  ever,"  he  said,  sink 
ing  his  voice  almost  to  a  whisper. 

Before  she  could  reply  to  this  remark,  Mrs.  Winston 
stepped  out  on  the  piazza  and  joined  them.  Harry 
arose  and  handed  her  a  chair,  but  in  his  heart  he  felt 
that  she  was  de  trap.  Of  late,  she  had  often  appeared 
suddenly,  and  interrupted  his  charming  conversations 
with  Mrs.  Philip.  Was  it  by  chance,  or  by  design? 
He  could  not  tell,  but  he  had  a  vague  suspicion  that  it 
was  by  design. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THAT  afternoon,  Harry  Holcombe  went  out  in  the 
back-yard  to  clean  his  gun.  This  was  a  performance 
which  always  gave  Lilian  great  delight  ;  she  seated  her 
self  on  the  steps  to  watch  him.  Before  he  had  finished 
his  task,  Percy  and  Jessie  came  out  on  the  back  piazza  ; 
in  the  afternoon  it  was  the  sunny  side  of  the  house,  and, 
at  this  season  of  the  year,  when  the  weather  was  warm 
and  fine,  it  was  often  selected  as  the  sitting-room  of  the 
family.  The  ladies  soon  found  themselves  almost  as 
much  interested  as  was  Lilian  in  the  work  of  the  young 
man.  Mrs.  Philip  was  particularly  amused  by  his  cos 
tume.  He  had  on  a  butler's  apron  and  looked  very 
funny,  Lilian  thought. 

"  Uncle  Hal,"  she  cried,  "  you  look  exactly  like 
Uncle  Oliver." 

"  You  saucy  puss  !  "  he  said,  "  you  shall  answer  for 
that  disrespectful  remark."  He  put  down  his  gun  and 
ran  towards  her,  but  she  eluded  him  by  rushing  down 
the  steps  into  the  yard ;  there  they  had  a  long  chase, 
for  the  little  maiden  was  fleet  of  foot,  and  it  was  some 
time  before  the  gentleman  caught  her.  When  she  was 
at  length  a  captive  in  his  arms  he  kissed  her,  and  tickled 
her,  and  tossed  her  up  and  down,  until  she  cried  loudly 
for  mercy.  Soon  he  brought  her  on  the  piazza,  and 
seating  himself  on  an  old  joggling-board  in  a  corner,  he 
began  to  joggle  her  furiously,  indulging  in  all  kinds  of 
boyish  capers  himself. 


REDBANK.  169 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Uncle  Hal  ? "  she 
cried  out  more  than  once.  "  You  are  too  funny  for 
anything  to-day." 

"  I've  been  sipping  the  elixir,"  he  whispered. 

"  What  is  the  elixir?  "  she  asked,  much  mystified. 

"  Why,  it's  something  that  makes  grown  people  little 
children  again.  I've  found  a  bottle  of  it,"  and  he 
gave  her  a  sly  wink,  "and  now  I'm  a  little  boy  again. 
Isn't  it  jolly?  Whenever  I  feel  grown-up  hereafter, 
I'm  going  to  take  a  drop  or  two,  and  become  little  again, 
like  Alice  in  Wonderland,  you  know. 

"  Sweet  bird,"  he  continued,  solemnly,  "  never,  never 
consent  to  grow  up  to  be  a  young  lady,  do  you  hear  ? " 

"But  how  can  I  help  it?  you  know  I  have  to  grow." 

"  You  mustn't  eat,"  he  whispered,  mysteriously. 

"  Not  even  when  I'm  hungry  ?  "  she  asked  opening  her 
eyes  wide  with  astonishment. 

"Not  even  when  you  are  hungry,"  he  echoed  in  a 
sepulchral  tone. 

"  Why  I  must — I  cannot  help  it." 

"  Anyhow,  you  must  manage  not  to  grow  up  ;  ladies 
are  not  half  as  sweet  as  little  girls — they  are  always 
doing  some  mischief  and  getting  other  people  into 
trouble." 

"  Are  they  ?  "  asked  the  child  with  innocent  surprise. 

'•  Yes,"  he  whispered.  "  Let  me  tell  you  a  dreadful 
secret  which  I  have  just  found  out.  Little  girls  when 
they  grow  up  turn  into  witches !  " 

"  Why,  Uncle  Hal,  what  do  you  mean  ?  now  I  know 
you  are  an  old  humbug." 

"  No,  I'm  not,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head. 

"  Aunt  Percy  isn't  a  witch,  I'm  perfectly  sure." 

"  Yes,  she  is,"  was  the  awful  reply ;  "  she  mounts  her 
broom-stick  every  night  after  we  have  all  gone  to  bed, 


170  REDBANK. 

and  rides  through  the  air  with  all  the  rest  of  them. 
Aunt  Jessie  goes  along  too.  They  are  both  awfully 
sly  about  it,  but  I  have  seen  them  lots  of  times." 

The  little  girl  broke  into  a  peal  of  laughter  to  signify 
her  incredulity ;  Percy  and  Jessie  joined  in  the  mirth, 
for  they  had  heard  every  word  of  the  conversation. 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  he  said ;  "  it  is  just  as  true  as 
preserved  ginger  and  orange  marmalade.  And,  sweet 
bird,  I'm  awfully  afraid  for  you ;  I'm  sure  you  will 
grow  up  into  a  perfectly  dreadful  witch,  and  bewitch 
all  the  poor  foolish  young  men  in  the  country ;  I  see 
it  in  your  eyes  this  very  minute." 

"  I  won't  do  any  such  thing  !  "  she  cried,  indignantly. 

"  We'll  see,"  he  replied,  solemnly,  beginning  to  joggle 
her  again. 

After  a  while  he  released  her,  and  then  came  and  sat 
down  quietly  near  the  ladies. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Philip,  who  had  never  before  seen 
him  in  such  a  mood,  "  are  you  ready  to  subside  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  I  think  I've  had  enough  to 
last  me  six  months.  I  must  have  a  frolic  every  now 
and  then,  or  I  feel  as  if  I  had  a  bone  in  my  back." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  absurd  fellow  ?  "  she  ex 
claimed,  laughing.  "  I  thought  you  had  several  bones 
in  your  back." 

"No,"  he  answered,  "  my  anatomy  is  very  defective ; 
I  haven't  got  my  full  share  of  either  bones  or  brains." 

"  Harry,"  exclaimed  Jessie,  joining  in  the  laughter, 
"  pray  don't  talk  so  much  nonsense.  Percy  will  really 
think  that  you  are  demented." 

"  No,  she  won't,"  he  said,  very  soberly  ;  "  don't  you 
suppose  I  know  an  angel  when  I  see  one  ?  I  often 
see  them  in  my  dreams." 

u  Percy  would  not  feel  complimented  if  she  knew  the 


REDBANK.  171 

kind  of  angels  you  are  accustomed  to  see  in  your 
dreams,"  replied  Jessie,  and  she  indulged  in  so  violent 
a  fit  of  laughter,  that  Mrs.  Philip  entreated  the  gentle 
man  to  explain  what  his  sister  meant. 

"  Do  tell  me  what  kind  of  angels  you  see,"  she 
begged  ;  "  favor  me  with  a  description  of  one,  please." 

41  What  are  you  laughing  at,  Jessica  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Don't  you  remember  the  peculiar  variety  you  saw 
at  Culpeper  C.  H.  ?  "  she  replied. 

"  Give  us  the  anecdote  by  all  means,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Philip. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  it  was  a  long  time  ago,  when  I 
was  a  young  thing,  and  couldn't  leave  my  mother,  or  at 
least  ought  not  to  have  left  her.  This  is  a  war  tale, 
you  know." 

"  Charming  !  "  she  cried,  "  go  on  !  " 

"  One  night  after  being  relieved  from  very  fatiguing 
vidette  duty,  I  found  an  old  deserted  house,  and  thought 
I  would  enter  and  take  a  little  nap  before  returning  to 
camp.  Luckily  I  found  a  bed  in  one  of  the  rooms  on 
the  ground  floor,  for  the  family  had  refugeed  and  left 
everything.  I  was  very  tired,  and  threw  myself  down 
on  it  to  rest  awhile.  The  night  was  very  hot,  and  the 
moon  was  shining,  so  I  left  my  window  wide  open.  It 
was  so  near  the  ground  that  a  child  could  have  climbed 
in.  There  was  not  a  soul  within  miles,  and  everything 
was  as  still  as  death.  I  fell  asleep  almost  immediately. 
About  midnight,  I  was  awakened  by  awful  sounds — 
cries,  groans,  screams.  I  started  up  in  bed,  and  rubbed 
my  eyes.  There  in  the  window,  right  in  the  moon 
light,  was  the  most  dreadful,  the  most  unearthly  being 
that  I  had  ever  beheld — gray-headed,  gray-bearded, 
flaming  eyes,  and,  worst  of  all,  hoofs  and  horns.  I 
thought  surely  that  my  time  had  come  ;  my  sins  flashed 


172  REDBACK. 

through  my  mind  like  forked  lightning,  and  I  was 
preparing  to  surrender  without  a  struggle,  when  the 
awful  silence  was  again  broken  by  a  loud  ba-a-a-a-ah  ! 
At  first,  I  thought  it  was  the  language  of  the  lower 
regions,  but  soon  I  saw  my  mistake.  It  was  only  a 
goat — a  pet  goat  of  the  family  to  whom  the  house 
belonged.  It  had  been  left  behind  in  the  general 
stampede,  and  I  suppose  was  almost  dead  from  hunger. 
It  was  standing  outside  on  the  ground,  with  its  fore-feet 
on  the  window-sill.  I  flung  my  pillow  at  it,  and  then 
lay  down  and  went  to  sleep  again." 

"  Which  anecdote  proves  your  liability  to  mistake 
goats  for  angels,"  said  Percy ;  "  I  shall  remember  that." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,"  replied  the  young  man  ;  "  it 
only  proves  that  it  is  not  healthy  to  sleep  on  the  ground 
floor." 

Before  Percy  could  answer  this  remark,  the  Colonel 
and  Mr.  Philip,  who  had  been  smoking  in  the  library, 
came  out  on  the  piazza  and  joined  the  ladies.  The 
latter  drew  a  chair  up  close  to  his  wife,  and  said: 

"  Well,  my  dear,  aren't  you  enjoying  this  ?  " 

"  Enjoying  what  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Why,  everything ;  the  sunshine,  the  blue  sky,  this 
beautiful  veranda,  tin's  quiet  country  scene,  and  last 
but  not  least,  this  pleasant  company." 

"  Of  course,  I'm  enjoying  the  pleasant  company,  but 
I'm  afraid  that  I  prefer  Art  to  Nature,"  she  replied, 
"  and  the  city  to  the  country." 

"  Now,  that  seems  perfectly  incomprehensible  to  me  !  " 
exclaimed  Mr.  Philip.  "  My  dear,  I  call  Redbank  a 
terrestrial  paradise.  I  like  everything  about  the  de 
lightful  old  place.  It  is  a  real  haven  of  rest.  But  espe 
cially  do  I  enjoy  this  hour  near  sunset,  when  the  cows 
and  the  horses,  and  the  mules,  and  the  dogs,  and  the  cats, 


REDBANK.  173 

and  the  pigs,  and  the  ducks,  and  the  chickens,  are  all  let 
loose  in  that  lot,"  and  he  pointed  to  a  large  enclosure  in 
the  rear  of  the  stables  and  plainly  visible  from  the 
piazza  where  they  were  sitting.  Here  the  stock  were 
all  fed  late  in  the  afternoon.  "  It  makes  me  feel  young 
again,"  he  continued,  "  to  hear  the  lowing  arid  the 
neighing,  the  barking  and  the  cackling,  the  quacking 
and  the  grunting." 

"  And  this  from  our  elegant,  fastidious  brother,  who 
has  for  years  lived  in  a  great  city,  and  delighted  in 
fashionable  society !  "  said  the  Colonel.  "  Really,  I'm 
amazed,  Philip." 

"  Allow  me  to  assure  you  that  I  mean  what  I  say," 
the  gentleman  replied.  "  I  have  lived  in  the  city  until  I 
hate  it.  The  glare  and  style  and  artificial  atmosphere 
sickens  and  disgusts  me.  A  breath  of  pure  country  air  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  cities  in  America.  I  believe 
that  it  was  intended  by  the  Creator  that  man  should 
live  in  the  country,  and  cultivate  the  ground.  In  these 
latter  days,  he  has  become  entirely  perverted,  and  the 
millennium  will  never  come  until  there  is  a  change. 
We  must  become  quieter  in  our  manners,  simpler  in  our 
tastes,  and  purer  in  our  morals,  and  the  country  is  the 
place  for  this  reformation."  As  he  spoke,  there  was 
a  half  smile  upon  his  face  ;  it  was  not  easy  to  know 
whether  he  meant  what  he  said  or  not.  His  young  wife 
looked  at  him  with  a  well-feigned  expression  of  dismay 
in  her  brown  eyes. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  holding  these  new  doc 
trines  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  For  a  long  time,  but  I  have  not  dared  to  express 
them." 

"  I  suppose  you  selected  me  as  the  proper  help-meet 
in  carrying  them  out." 


174  REVBANK. 

"  Of  course  I  did,"  he  answered,  still  smiling. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  some  day  your  sins  will  overtake 
you  and  great  will  be  your  repentance."  She  laughed 
as  she  uttered  these  words  ;  then,  rising  from  her  seat, 
she  said,  "  Come,  Jessie,  let's  go  for  a  walk,  before  the 
sun  sets."  Harry  also  arose,  and  strolled  off  with  them 
down  the  avenue.  He  was  soon  chatting  with  Percy, 
in  his  usual  light  manner.  Jessie  did  not  like  to  see 
them  so  free  and  easy  with  each  other  ;  she  did  not  like 
the  unconstrained  personal  allusions  and  compliments 
Avhich  were  tossed  to  and  fro  between  them,  like  bon 
bons  at  a  carnival.  She  wondered  how  Percy  could  for 
get  her  dignity  as  a  wife ;  she  wondered  how  Harry 
could  keep  up  such  senseless  badinage  from  noon  till 
night.  To  her  it  seemed  that  the  two  were  drifting 
into  a  dangerous  intimacy. 

Percy  was  young,  vain,  and  thoughtless ;  and  Harry 
was  very  sincere  in  his  admiration  for  her.  He  had 
never  before  seen  quite  such  a  woman;  she  was  so 
bright,  so  stylish,  so  ready,  so  fascinating,  so  exquisitely 
artificial,  so  profoundly  trained  x  in  all  the  subtle  ways 
of  society.  The  daintiness  of  everything  about  her  was 
a  perpetual  delight  to  him.  The  jewelled  hands  with 
the  costly  laces  falling  over  them  ;  the  white  throat 
with  its  band  of  black  velvet  on  which  shone  a  blazing 
diamond;  the  little  feet  encased  in  silk  stockings  and 
high-heeled  slippers ;  the  sweep  of  her  velvet  trains  ; 
the  perfume  that  hung  around  her ;  he  felt  it  all,  and 
thrilled  to  its  inexplicable  charm,  as  a  musician  to  the 
harmony  of  deep  chords. 

Percy,  on  her  side,  had  never  met  just  such  a  man  as 
Harry  Holcombe.  He  was  brilliant,  dashing,  reckless, 
with  no  taint  of  business  about  him,  and  no  studied, 
drawing-room  polish.  He  was  utterly  unconscious,  and 


REDBACK.  175 

the  grace  of  nature  was  in  all  that  he  said  and  did.  Is 
it  a  wonder,  then,  that  each  felt  the  attraction  of  the 
other?  Is  it  strange  that  both  Eleanor  and  Jessie 
realized  that  there  might  be  danger  ahead  ?  At  length, 
these  two  had  a  talk  over  it.  "I'm  vexed  beyond 
measure  at  the  thoughtlessness  of  Harry,"  said  the 
former ;  "  he  ought  to  know  better  than  to  carry  on  in 
that  way  with  a  married  woman.  Philip's  of  a  very 
jealous  disposition,  and  just  as  soon  as  he  sees  it,  you 
may  be  sure  there  will  be  a  scene.  I  cannot  forgive  him 
for  marrying  that  young  creature  ;  at  his  age,  he  ought 
have  known  better.  They  do  not  care  at  all  for  the 
same  things,  and  there  will  be  perpetual  collisions ; 
I'm  afraid  her  money  was  the  great  attraction  in  his 
eyes." 

u  Don't  say  that,  Eleanor,  she  is  certainly  pretty  and 
fascinating  enough  to  attract  any  man.  I  .have  fallen 
completely  under  her  spells  myself.  If  I  were  a  man  I 
know  I  would  be  bewitched  too." 

"  Well,  Philip  has  seen  too  many  beautiful  women  to 
be  captivated  by  a  mere  Paris  doll." 

"  She  is  more  than  that,"  said  Jessie.  "  She  seems 
very  giddy,  but  she  is  not  soulless.  She  possesses  both 
mind  and  character." 

"  A  new  edition  of  Nettie  Hunter,  bound  in  velvet 
with  gold  clasps,"  replied  Mrs.  Winston. 

"  That  type  of  woman  is  becoming  very  common, 
North,  South,  East  and  West,  one  finds  pretty  coquettes 
in  flocks,  like  sparrows.  Don't  be  too  full  of  con 
tempt,  Nell ;  after  all,  they  are  very  charming,  and 
they  do  get  much  more  out  of  life  than  the  sober 
ones.  Sometimes  I  envy  them  and  long  to  be  like 
them." 

"•  I  don't  believe  you,  Jessica  Holcombe." 


176  .     REDBANK. 

"  It  is  nevertheless  true.  Nettie  Hunter  has  always 
fascinated  me  and  so  does  Percy." 

.  "  There  is  a  difference  between  them  after  all,"  said 
Mrs.  Winston  ;  "  Nettie  is  more  restless  and  full  of 
chatter,  but  she  has  at  bottom  a  very  warm  and  loving 
heart,  and  some  sense  of  right  and  wrong.  Percy  has 
the  self-possession  and  repose  of  the  fashionable  woman 
and  the  hardness  of  one  of  her  diamonds.  She  enjoys 
playing  with  Hariy — there  is  no  other  amusement 
within  reach,  but  she  will  never  care  a  fig  for  any  one 
but  herself." 

"  You  are  too  severe,  Eleanor." 

"  No,  I'm  not,  and,  Jessie,  I  do  wish  you  would  speak 
to  Harry  and  advise  him  to  let  her  alone." 

"  It  would  do  no  good.  I  have  no  influence  over  him. 
He  would  laugh  at  me,  and  call  me  a  pious  little  prude  ; 
besides,  he  is  not  always  amiable  when  one  gives  him 
advice." 

"  I  did  hope  that  Alice  Brooks  would  accept  him," 
said  Eleanor.  "  She  is  just  the  wife  for  him,  and  would 
make  a  man  of  him.  With  all  his  faults,  he  has  good 
stuff  in  him." 

"  I  hoped  so  too,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  I  think  she  liked  him 
very  much,  and  I  believe  he  really  loved  her,  but  there 
was  interference  from  some  quarter." 

"  It  is  a  great  pity  that  people  will  interfere  in  such 
matters,"  Mrs.  Winston  replied. 

"  I'm  not  surprised  in  this  case,  for  Harry  is  hardly 
worthy  of  such  a  splendid  girl  as  Alice."  The  conver 
sation  ended  here. 

One  evening,  a  week  later,  when  Jessie  went  into  the 
parlor,  she  found  Mrs.  Philip  and  Harry  playing  back 
gammon  together.  They  seemed  to  be  in  the  wildest 
spirits,  and,  as  the  game  progressed,  they  grew  loud  and 


HEDBANR.  177 

familiar  in  tone  and  manner.  Jessie  seated  herself  at 
the  piano  and  began  to  play,  hoping  that  her  presence 
might  impose  some  restraint  upon  them,  but  she  was 
disappointed.  When,  at  bed-time,  Mr.  Philip  came  in 
search  of  his  lost  bride,  as  he  called  her,  he  paused  a 
moment  at  the  open  door,  and  surveyed  the  excited  gam 
blers.  From  her  post  at  the  piano,  Jessie  caught  a 
glimpse  of  him.  His  brows  were  unpleasantly  knit  and 
a  dark  shadow  swept  over  his  face.  She  had  seen  that 
expression  more  than  once  of  late. 

When  the  husband  and  wife  had  left  the  room,  Jessie 
arose  from  the  piano-stool,  and  approached  the  table, 
near  which  her  brother  was  sitting.  He  had  closed  the 
backgammon  board,  and  was  looking  into  the  fire.  His 
hair  was  tossed  up  rather  wildly,  and  a  strange  light  was 
burning  in  his  eyes.  The  young  girl  sat  down,  took  up 
a  newspaper,  and  tried  to  interest  herself  in  the  items  of 
the  day,  but  she  could  not  read,  her  thoughts  were  far 
away.  She  wanted  to  talk  with  her  brother,  and  yet 
she  hardly  knew  how  to  begin.  He  appeared  to  be 
utterly  unconscious  of  her  presence.  Presently  he  got 
up  and  put  two  or  three  sticks  of  wood  on  the  fire,  for 
the  evening  was  cool.  Still  he  showed  no  signs  of  speak 
ing,  and  evidently  his  mood  was  not  a  pleasant  one. 

"  Harry,"  said  the  sister,  after  a  prolonged  silence. 
He  looked  up  at  her  with  his  cold  black  eyes,  but  made 
no  response.  She  was  too  frank  and  ingenuous  to  begin 
with  a  roundabout  introduction ;  she  continued  very 
simply,  "  Do  you  think  that  it  is  quite  right  for  you  to 
carry  on  as  you  are  doing  with  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  ?  " 

"  Confound  it !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  a  fellow  cannot 
make  himself  agreeable  even  to  a  married  woman,  with 
out  raising  a  cry  from  all  the  other  females  in  the  world. 

I've  no  patience  with  it." 

12 


178  RESBANR.    ' 

"  Would  you  like  a  fellow  to  make  himself  agreeable 
to  your  wife  in  just  that  way  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  never  expect  to  have  a  wife,  so  I  cannot  imagine 
anything  about  it." 

"  Well,  reckless  as  you  are,  I  believe  you  have  some 
sense  of  right  and  wrong,  and  from  the  very  expression 
of  your  face  at  this  moment,  I  know  that  your  conscience 
is  troubling  you.  You  are  treading  on  dangerous 
ground." 

"  Explain  yourself,"  he  said,  coldly.  "  What  do  you 
mean?" 

"  You  know  without  asking.  You  are  carrying  on  a 
silly  flirtation  with  a  married  woman,  and  some  dis 
agreeable  consequences  may  follow.  I  have  seen  Mr. 
Philip  Winston's  face  more  than  once,  when  he  has 
found  you  and  his  wife  together,  and  the  expression  was 
not  pleasant." 

"  He  is  a  jealous,  suspicious  old  fool." 

"  Hush,  Harry ;  I'm  sure  he  has  not  paid  much  atten 
tion  to  either  you  or  Percy.  He  has  not  watched  you 
in  the  least.  He  has  given  you  perfect  liberty  to  make 
yourself  agreeable  to  her.  He  would  be  blind,  indeed, 
not  to  se_e  that  you  are  going  a  little  too  far.  It  has 
evidently  surprised  him,  for  he  imagined  himself  in  the 
midst  of  an  honorable  household." 

"  And  who  dares  to  say  to  the  contrary  ? "  he  ex 
claimed,  "  he  pays  no  attention  to  his  wife  himself,  and 
then  he  is  angry  if  any  one  else  looks  at  her." 

"  That  is  nonsense,"  she  said ;  "  I  have  seen  you  and 
Percy  together,  and  you  are  more  like  lovers  than  many 
a  man  and  woman  who  are  engaged.  You  look  at  each 
other,  and  talk  to  each  other,  in  an  unbecoming  fashion. 
I  make  the  assertion  and  I  defy  you  to  contradict  me." 

"  How  can  I  help  admiring  her  ?  "  he  asked. 


RED&ANK.  179 

"  You  can  help  showing  it  quite  so  plainly." 

"  She  wouldn't  be  satisfied  if  I  did.  She  is  as  pretty 
as  a  picture,  and  she  knows  it,  and  she  wants  everybody 
else  to  tell  her  so." 

"  Then,  if  her  demands  are  such,  I  would  get  out  of  her 
way  immediately." 

He  laughed  a  light  mocking  laugh,  and  said,  "  I'll  be 
darned  if  I  ever  run  away  from  a  pretty  woman." 

"  Don't  grow  profane,  please,  let  me  remind  you  that 
you  are  in  the  presence  of  a  lady." 

"  Well,  it's  enough  to  make  a  fellow  profane  to  talk 
with  such  a  little  goose  as  you  are.  You  don't  know 
anything  about  the  world.  In  society,  married  men  and 
women  occasionally  notice  each  other  without  exciting 
scandal." 

"  Occasionally  they  excite  scandal  by  noticing  each 
other  too  much.  I  know  that  I'm  not  in  society,  and  I 
don't  care  to  be,  but  sometimes  I  take  up  a  newspaper 
and  read  it.  I  observe  that  divorces  are  very  com 
mon." 

"  Jessie,  you  have  a  rare  faculty  of  making  mountains 
out  of  mole-hills,"  he  said  in  a  light  tone. 

"  I  know  that  very  serious  consequences  often  follow 
thoughtless  acts.  I  believe  that  both  you  and  Percy  are 
innocent  of  any  intention  of  doing  wrong,  but  you  are 
drifting  toward  the  breakers." 

"  How  poetical  you  are  ! "  he  said. 

"  Harry,  that  kind  of  exclamation  is  lost  on  me  now. 
I  am  talking  seriously.  I  entreat  you  to  be  more  careful 
in  your  manner  towards  Percy.  You  have  grown 
familiar,  and  familiarity  is  vulgar.  Treat  her  as  a  lady 
should  be  treated." 

"  By  heavens,  you  sha'n't  say  that  I  don't  treat  her  as 
a  lady  should  be  treated." 


180  REDBANK. 

"  You  did  not  to-night.  I  saw  you  lay  your  hand  on 
her  more  than  once,  and  you  even  pulled  her  hair." 

"  Well,  she's  to  blame  as  much  as  I  am.  She  would 
inveigle  a  saint  into  admiring  her  and  complimenting 
her." 

"  Just  like  Adam — always  throwing  the  blame  on 
Eve.  '  The  woman  tempted  me.' "  He  laughed. 

"  When  a  fellow  is  cornered,  he  must  throw  the  blame 
on  somebody." 

"  There,"  she  said,  "  I  hope  you  have  recovered  your 
sanity,  that  laugh  sounds  natural."  Soon  she  added, 
"  Harry,  please  promise  me  that  you  will  be  more  care 
ful.  Nobody  loves  you  better  than  I  do,  and  it  grieves 
me  to  see  you  go  wrong.  Remember  our  mother, 
Harry !  " 

"  There,  that  will  do,"  he  replied,  raising  his  hand  as 
if  to  ward  off  a  blow.  He  had  loved  his  gentle  mother 
with  passionate  devotion,  and  could  not  bear  to  hear  her 
name  mentioned. 

After  his  sister  had  said  good-night  and  closed  the 
door  behind  her,  the  young  man  sat  a  long  time  looking 
into  the  fire.  He  could  not  shake  off  the  uncomfortable 
feeling  that  had  taken  possession  of  him.  A  strange 
warfare  of  emotions  was  going  on  within  him.  He 
knew  very  well  that  he  had  been  doing  wrong  in  a 
great  many  different  ways.  He  did  not  approve  of 
himself,  and  yet  he  was  ready  to  undertake  his  own 
defence  against  all  the  powers,  within  or  without,  that 
dared  to  condemn  him.  His  admiration  for  Mrs.  Philip 
Winston  was  very  genuine.  She  was  a  fascinating 
woman,  and  in  her  presence  he  often  felt  himself  a  cap 
tive  hopelessly  bound,  but  he  had  never  mistaken  her 
for  a  divinity.  He  knew  that  she  was  mortal,  and  made 
of  very  common  clay.  He  had  been  foolish  to  go  so  far 


REDBANK.  181 

with  her.  Then  came  thoughts  of  another  woman, 
sweeter  and  gentler,  but  lost  to  him  forever,  because  he 
was  not  worthy  of  her.  In  a  vague,  wretched  way,  he 
realized  what  her  love  would  have  been  to  him — a  power 
to  uplift — a  star  to  guide. 

It  was  long  after  midnight,  when  at  last  he  arose 
from  his  seat.  The  fire  had  died  entirely  out,  and  the 
desolation  of  ashes  was  over  the  hearth  and  over  his 
own  heart.  His  face  was  pallid  and  gray,  but  there 
was  a  fixed  look  about  the  mouth  which  betokened  a 
strong  purpose. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MRS.  PHILIP  WINSTON  had  more  than  once  expressed 
a  desire  to  ride.  She  waylaid  the  Colonel,  one  morn 
ing,  as  he  was  leaving  the  house,  and  said,  "  Brother, 
haven't  you  any  good  riding-horses  in  your  stables  ? 
Jessie,  Mr.  Holcombe,  and  I,  want  to  go  out  for  a  ride 
this  afternoon.  Mr.  Holcombe  has  his  own  horse,  of 
course,  so  you  have  only  to  find  a  steed  for  Jessie,  and 
one  for  me.*  The  Colonel  hesitated.  "  Now,  do  be 
nice  and  find  something  for  us  to  mount,"  she  pleaded, 
laying  her  beautiful  hand  caressingly  upon  his  sleeve. 
He  could  not  resist  that  argument. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  slowly,  "  I  reckon  I  can  manage 
it.  You  may  have  my  horse — he's  safe  enough,  and 
Jessie  is  not  afraid  to  ride  the  colt." 

"  Gracious  heavens  ! "  she  exclaimed,  "  we  don't 
want  an  accident.  Don't  give  Jessie  a  colt,  I  beseech 
you." 

He  smiled  and  said,  "  You  needn't  be  alarmed  about 
Jessie  ;  she  could  ride  a  mustang  at  a  circus  ;  she  was 
raised  in  a  saddle.  The  colt  is  good  enough — he  is 
very  well  broken,  only  he  has  a  few  ugly  tricks.  I 
would  not  like  to  see  you  on  his  back,  my  dear." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  replied,  with  a  light  laugh,  "  I  can 
realize  that  my  life  is  rather  more  valuable  than  hers. 
T  have  a  husband  to  grieve  over  me,  and  she  hasn't." 


EEDBANK.  183 

This  gay  city  girl  completely  bewitched  the  Colonel  by 
her  airs  and  grace,  and  lie  was  willing  to  take  any 
amount  of  trouble  to  gratify  her.  He  abandoned  his 
own  plan  for  the  afternoon,  and  even  sent  over  to  a 
neighbor's  house  to  borrow  a  side-saddle  of  a  newer 
and  better  fashion  than  any  that  were  hanging  in  his 
stables. 

Before  three  o'clock,  the  horses  were  at  the  door. 
The  Colonel  himself  lifted  his  sister-in-law  into  the 
saddle,  tightened  the  girth,  and  arranged  her  skirt  in 
the  most  approved  fashion.  Mr.  Philip  looked  at  the 
riders  from  his  comfortable  post  on  the  piazza,  and 
called  to  Mr.  Holcombe  to  take  good  care  of  his  wife, 
and  bring  her  back  all  right. 

Harry  expressed  his  determination  to  do  that,  what 
ever  might  happen. 

"  I  will  bring  her  back,  if  I  don't  come  myself,"  he 
said,  laughing.  He  soon  saw  that  she  would  require  a 
good  deal  of  his  attention,  for  she  did  not  know  much 
about  managing  a  horse,  and  did  not  appear  to  advant 
age  when  mounted.  Her  self-confidence  was  somewhat 
diminished,  and  the  graceful  ease  of  her  manner  was 
entirely  gone.  Her  riding  habit  was  elegant  and  fitted 
faultlessly,  yet  she  did  not  give  the  impression  of  an 
Amazon,  as  Jessie  Holcombe  did. 

The  three  cantered  slowly  down  the  avenue.  The 
afternoon  was  beautiful,  with  some  of  the  chill  of  coming 
winter  already  in  the  air.  Jessie  felt  ready  for  a 
gallop,  but  she  restrained  herself,  and  walked  quietly 
beside  the  others. 

"  I  was  thrown  by  a  horse  at  the  riding-school  a  few 
years  ago,"  said  Mrs.  Philip,  "  and  I  have  been  rather 
timid  about  riding  ever  since." 


184  REDBANK. 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  that  old  cob,"  Harry 
replied;  "he  has  jogged  over  the  plantation  for  so 
many  years  with  our  venerable  brother  upon  his  back, 
that  he  would  not  know  how  to  run  away,  even  if  he 
wanted  to — he  has  forgotten  how  to  use  his  legs." 

"  Stop  making  fun  of  him  this  minute,"  said  Mrs.Philip ; 
"  I  think  he  is  very  nice  ;  he  has  a  very  easy  gait." 

"  Yes,  like  a  rocking-chair,"  the  gentleman  answered. 
"  I  had  rather  sit  on  the  piazza  and  rock  backwards  and 
forwards  all  day  than  ride  him." 

"  I  will  turn  round  and  go  home,  if  you  say  another 
word,"  said  Percy,  laughing. 

"  Heaven  forbid  !  I'll  be  as  mum  as  a  cotton-stalk," 
he  said,  looking  at  her  with  a  merry  twinkle  in  his 
eye. 

"  I  know  a  part  of  your  ridicule  is  meant  for  the 
rider,"  Mrs.  Philip  ventured  to  assert. 

"Now,  I  call  that  a  cruel  charge.  Here  I've  been 
admiring  you  until  I've  hardly  got  any  eyesight  left, 
and  that's  the  way  you  repay  me.  I  don't  think  any 
weapon  was  ever  invented  quite  equal  to  a  woman's 
tongue.  It  runs  you  through  the  ribs,  breaks  all  your 
bones,  and  takes  off  your  head  at  the  same  time." 

This  smoothed  down  the  ruffled  self-love  of  the 
lady. 

"  Good-bye  !  "  exclaimed  Jessie,  "  I'm  off  for  a  gallop. 
I  can't  hold  in  this  restless  creature  any  longer."  And 
away  she  dashed. 

"  How  beautifully  your  sister  rides,"  said  Mrs.  Philip  ; 
"  she  sits  so  firmly  in  the  saddle  that  she  seems  to  be  a 
part  of  the  horse." 

"  Yes,  few  ladies  ride  better  than  Jessie,"  the  young 
man  replied ;  "  she  has  been  in  the  saddle  ever  since  she 


KEDBANE.  185 

v/a.!  a  baby.  She  used  to  ride  over  the  plantation  with 
my  father  when  she  was  too  small  to  be  seen  without  a 
microscope.  She  is  very  fond  of  it."  They  watched 
her  as  she  disappeared  from  sight ;  soon  she  came 
galloping  back,  her  fiery  little  steed  occasionally  indulg 
ing  in  a  side  plunge. 

"  Look  out,"  called  Harry ;  "  he's  a  vicious  thing, 
and  would  enjoy  throwing  you." 

"  I'm  not  in  the  least  afraid  of  him,  and  he  knows  it 
well,"  she  answered  back.  Soon  she  quieted  down  her 
horse,  and  cantered  along  beside  them. 

They  had  passed  the  mill,  and  were  in  the  midst  of  the 
pine  grove  beyond  it,  when  through  the  trees  they  saw 
two  other  riders  approaching  from  the  opposite  direc 
tion. 

"  Gracious  goodness ! "  said  Harry,  and  his  face 
flushed  somewhat,  as  if  the  sight  were  not  pleasant. 

"  Who  are  they?  "  asked  Percy. 

"  Miss  Brooks  and  that  conceited  puppy  of  a  cousin," 
he  returned. 

"Hush!"  said  Jessie,  "you  must  not  speak  so ;  you 
do  not  even  know  him." 

"  I've  no  desire  to  know  him,"  was  the  reply ;  "  he 
has  the  air  of  the  Grand  Turk.  If  she  marries  him,  I 
know  he  will  murder  her  in  less  than  a  year." 

"  What  tragical  predictions !  "  exclaimed  Percy ;  "  you 
must  be  interested  in  her  fate  to  judge  by  your  looks." 

"  I  am,"  he  said  ;  "  I'm  interested  in  the  fate  of  every 
pretty  woman." 

"  Harry  dear,  do  be  polite  to  them,"  his  sister  en 
treated  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Of  course  I  shall ;  I  should  like  to  kill  them  both 
with  politeness," — and  he  laughed  unpleasantly. 


186  REDBAXK. 

The  two  parties  were  now  in  front  of  each  other, 
and  greetings  were  exchanged,  and  introductions 
made. 

"  Why  haven't  you  been  to  see  me,  Jessie  ?  "  Alice 
asked  immediately. 

"  I  only  heard  that  you  were  back  at  The  Grove,  a  few 
days  ago.  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you !  "  She  could 
not  add,  "  How  well  you  are  looking." 

Alice  Brooks  was  indeed  changed.  The  bloom  was 
gone  from  her  cheeks,  and  her  slender  form  appeared 
too  fragile  for  perfect  health.  The  impression  of 
ethereal  delicacy  was  farther  increased  by  her  blue  eyes 
and  blonde  hair.  She  was  dressed  in  a  habit  of  dark 
green  cloth  with  facings  of  a  lighter  shade.  Instead 
of  the  conventional  beaver,  she  wore  a  little  three-cor 
nered  hat  ornamented  with  ostrich  tips.  Jessie  thought 
she  had  never  seen  her  friend  look  so  lovely.  Alice 
was  not  beautiful,  but  there  was  something  so  refined, 
and  sweet  and  spiritual  about  her  face  and  manner, 
that  one  could  not  help  admiring  her. 

"  We  were  just  going  over  to  call  on  you,"  she  said ; 
"  but  it  is  still  so  early  in  the  afternoon,  that  we  will 
turn  and  ride  awhile  with  you.  Then  we  will  go  to 
Redbank  and  make  our  call,  for  we  want  to  see  Mrs. 
Winston  and  the  Colonel,  as  well  as  the  present 
party." 

"  That's  a  charming  arrangement,"  said  Jessie. 

The  ridel's  now  fell  into  order,  and  Miss  Holcombe 
found  herself  in  front  with  Mr.  Waverley  Brooks, 
while  the  others  fell  behind.  Alice  managed  to  place 
Mi-s.  Philip  between  herself  and  Harry,  but  she  did  not 
appear  to  avoid  conversation  with  him.  She  began  to 
talk  about  the  places  that  she  had  visited  during  the 


REDKANK.  187 

summer,  and  Mrs.  Philip  was  glad  to  know  something 
about  them  herself.  The  two  enjoyed  comparing  notes, 
while  Harry  threw  in  an  occasional  question. 

At  a  single  glance,  Jessie  Holcombe  took  in  the  person 
of  her  companion.  In  a  moment,  she  decided  tha^t  he 
was  not  at  all  like  his  father.  Soon,  however,  she 
changed  her  mind ;  yes,  there  was  a  great  resemblance 
between  father  and  son,  though  it  eluded  one  at  first. 
Both  had  the  same  clear  gray  eyes,  the  same  finely 
chiselled  mouth  and  chin,  and  the  same  playful  smile, 
hiding  under  the  heavy  mustache. 

"  Miss  Holcombe,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  I've  heard 
my  cousin  talk  so  much  about  you  that  I  seem  to  know 
you  already." 

"  I'm  very  sorry  indeed,"  the  young  girl  replied,  look 
ing  into  his  face  to  catch  the  expression  of  his  father's 
eyes  which  she  was  anxious  to  see  again. 

"  You  must  tell  me  why?  "  he  asked,  somewhat  sur 
prised  at  her  words. 

"  Because  it  is  always  better  to  begin  an  acquaintance 
without  expectations.  Now,  I'm  sure  you  will  be  dis 
appointed  in  me." 

"  Indeed  I'm  not,"  he  answered,  emphatically. 

"  But  you  don't  know  me  yet,"  she  said,  "  you  are 
over-bold  to  speak  so  confidently." 

"  I  deny  that  also,"  he  replied,  his  whole  face  lighting 
up  with  his  father's  smile.  "  But,  Miss  Holcombe,  I 
hope  I  am  not  exposed  to  the  same  disadvantage  with 
you.  I  would  be  sorry  if  anybody  had  been  talking  to 
you  about  me." 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  said,  very  simply,  "  I  was  quite  deter 
mined  to  be  without  prejudices,  so  I  have  never  asked  a 
single  question  about  you." 


188 

"  I'm  afraid  that  argues  great  indifference." 

"  By  no  means ;  only  a  man  would  misunderstand 
my  remark." 

"  And  is  that  your  opinion  of  men  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Do 
you  always  find  them  obtuse  ?  " 

"  Not  always,  but  sometimes,"  she  answered,  reflect 
ing  his  smile ;  "  but  on  the  whole  I  like  them  very  well, 
especially  when  I'm  on  horseback." 

"  I  shall  remember  that  statement,  but  I  do  not  at  all 
understand  what  you  mean  by  it.  Perhaps  you  will 
pity  my  obtuseness  and  explain." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Brooks,  I  have  never,  never  in  my  long 
and  eventful  life,  been  allowed  to  ride  unless  accom 
panied  by  a  man.  Now,  when  I  tell  you  that  I  like 
nothing  on  earth  so  well  as  a  gallop  or  a  trot  on  the 
back  of  a  good  horse,  you  may  be  able  to  realize  my 
appreciation  of  men." 

"  You  acknowledge,  then,  that  there  are  emergencies 
in  which  they  are  indispensable  ?  "  he  said. 

She  assented  with  a  smile.  The  gentleman  looked  at 
her  with  curiosity  and  admiration.  Her  conversation 
amused  him.  She  was  not  at  all  like  his  cousin  Alice, 
whose  words,  with  all  their  gracious  charm,  were  never 
sparkling  or  piquant. 

"  I  find  that  our  tastes  are  alike,  Miss  Holcombe  ;  I 
am  very  fond  of  riding,  too.  I  had  rather  live  without 
a  house  than  without  a  horse." 

"  I  can't  go  so  far  as  that.  I  do  appreciate  a  house 
very  much,  especially  when  it  rains,  as  it  sometimes 
does  in  Georgia." 

"  But  a  tent  would  answer  instead,  even  in  rainy 
weather.  But  what  could  ever  take  the  place  of  a 
horse?" 


KEDBANK.  189 

"  Why,  steam  seems  to  be  pushing  him  aside  every 
where.  After  a  while  I  suppose  we  will  have 
wooden  horses,  rilled  with  machinery  and  propelled  by 
steam." 

"  Or  ride  on  wheels,  as  they  do  in  France,"  he 
said. 

"  Well,  those  contrivances  might  be  veiy  convenient, 
but  I  prefer  a  living  creature  which  responds  with 
intelligence  when  I  pull  the  reins,  and  gives  me  back 
a  little  love  for  my  domination.  Come,  let's  have  a 
gallop  ;  riding  is  better  than  talking."  They  were  soon 
out  of  sight,  lost  in  the  deep  woods,  nor  did  they  again 
see  the  other  three  riders  until  they  met  them  in  the 
parlor  at  Redbank,  a  few  hours  later.  That  October 
afternoon  passed  gloriously  for  Jessie  Holcombe.  Her 
companion  was  a  dashing  horseman,  ready  to  leap  a 
ditch,  jump  a  fence  or  ride  a  race,  and  though  he  did 
not  indulge  in  that  kind  of  riding  on  the  present  occa 
sion,  yet  she  felt  his  enthusiasm,  and  responded  to  it. 
The  acquaintance  between  the  two  advanced  rapidly 
under  the  stimulus  of  this  exhilarating  exercise.  When 
they  at  length  fell  into  a  walk,  he  entertained  her  with 
reminiscences  of  his  travels.  As  she  listened  to  his 
conversation,  her  cheeks,  already  flushed,  became  more 
brilliant,  and  her  fine  eyes  gave  expression  to  every 
shade  of  her  .pleasurable  emotion. 

She  soon  found  that  his  tastes,  as  well  as  his  looks 
and  manners,  were  very  English.  Everything  about 
him  proclaimed  a  healthy,  wholesome  nature  ;  the  clear 
gray  eyes,  the  florid  complexion,  the  hearty  laugh,  the 
frank,  unaffected  way  of  talking.  You  felt  that  he 
possessed  an  unlimited  capacity  for  enjoyment. 

The  afternoon  was  almost  over  and  the  sun  was  drop- 


190  REDBANR. 

ping  low,  when  the  two  riders  came  within  sight  of 
Redbank.  As  they  were  entering  the  long  avenue, 
Jessie  turned  to  her  companion  and  said,  "  I  do  not  think 
that  Alice  is  looking  at  all  strong.  She  seems  tired  and 
worn." 

"  Yes,  it  grieves  us  all  to  see  her,"  he  replied,  "  but 
she  never  complains,  and  declares  that  there's  nothing 
the  matter  with  her.  We  have  been  trying  to  build  her 
up,  as  the  doctors  say,  but  she  is  just  a  little  obstinate, 
and  does  not  assist  us  in  our  efforts.  I  think  we  trav 
elled  too  much  in  the  summer,  and  she  got  tired.  I  hope 
she  will  improve  now  that  she  is  at  home  again." 

"  It  would  be  strange  if  she  did  not,"  said  Jessie,  and 
she  looked  at  the  gentleman  as  if  she  expected  him  to 
understand  her  meaning,  but  he  did  not — he  was  obtuse 
again. 

When  Jessie  and  her  companion  entered  the  parlor  at 
Redbank,  they  were  greeted  by  a  volley  of  questions. 
"  Where  have  you  been  ?  "  "  Why  did  you  go  so  far  ?  " 
"  Did  you  get  lost  ?  "  They  only  laughed,  and  refused 
to  satisfy  public  curiosity. 

"  Why,  we  have  been  home  an  hour,"  said  Mrs. 
Philip ;  "  and,  Jessie,  I  have  been  half  dead  with  anx 
iety  about  you.  I  was  sure  that  wicked  colt  had  thrown 
you  over  his  head,  and  broken  your  neck." 

"  And  what  did  you  think  I  was  doing  in  the  mean 
time  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Brooks. 

"Looking  on  ! "  replied  Mrs.  Philip;  "  I  thought  you 
would  allow  it  to  be  done  for  the  pleasure  of  picking 
her  up." 

"  Thanks  for  your  good  opinion  of  me ! "  he  said  ; 
then  turning  to  his  cousin,  "  Alice,  I  hope  you  are  not 
tired  waiting." 

"  Oh,  no — not  at  all,"  she  answered ;  "  but  I  think  it 


&EDBANR.  191 

is  time  now  for  us  to  start  home."  And  she  arose  from 
her  seat,  and  the  good-byes  were  spoken. 

That  evening  around  the  dinner-table,  Miss  Brooks 
and  her  cousin  were  thoroughly  discussed.  Mrs.  Philip 
began  by  saying,  "Do  tell  me  something  about  Mr.  and 
Miss  Brooks.  Who  are  they  ?  " 

"  They  are  neighbors  of  ours,"  the  Colonel  replied. 

"  That  is  not  sufficient,"  Percy  said,  "  your  account 
is  too  general ;  I  want  to  know  something  more." 

"  Well,  they  are  friends  of  ours.  Is  not  that  enough 
to  give  them  the  stamp  of  respectability  ?  "  he  asked, 
laughing  at  her. 

"  Yes,  of  course  ;  but  they  interest  me,  and  I  want  to 
know  who  they  are." 

"  Are  you  sure  it  is  interest,  and  not  curiosity? " 
inquired  her  husband. 

"  I  will  not  answer  such  a  question,"  she  replied ; 
"  you  are  always  ready  to  suspect  me  of  bad  motives." 

"  Well,  Percy,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  "  I  will  give  you 
a  history  of  the  lady  and  gentleman  so  far  as  I  know  it. 
Miss  Alice  Brooks  is  the  only  daughter  of  Mrs.  Eustace 
Brooks,  who  is  a  widow  and  owns  a  plantation  called 
The  Grove,  about  five  miles  from  here.  Mr.  Brooks  is 
her  first  cousin.  He  is  the  son  of  Judge  Brooks  who 
lives  in  the  city." 

"  Are  they  lovers?  "  asked  Percy. 

"I  suppose  they  are,"  Mrs.  Winston  replied.  "It  is 
said  that  they  are  going  to  be  married  soon.  They  have 
been  engaged  ever  since  they  were  children." 

"  She  is  very  sweet-looking,"  said  Percy,  "  but  she 
lacks  color  and  animation.  Her  riding  habit  was  beau 
tiful,  but  hardly  the  thing  for  the  country." 

"  She  has  been  at  Long  Branch  and  Newport,  most 
of  the  summer,  and  I  suppose  she  bought  it  to  wear 


192  REDBANR. 

there.  She  is  fond  of  riding,"  Mrs.  Winston  said,  very 
quietly. 

"  Are  they  rich  ?  "  asked  Percy. 

Harry  looked  up  with  a  flash  of  annoyance  in  his 
eyes,  which  did  not  escape  the  notice  of  the  lady. 

"  Yes,"  he  exclaimed,  "  they  own  half  the  State  of 
Georgia." 

"  They  are  among  the  few  rich  people  at  the  South 
now,"  said  Colonel  Winston.  "  The  mother  of  Mr. 
Waverley  Brooks  was  an  heiress  from  New  York,  and  he 
inherits  a  large  property  through  her." 

"  Then  they  have  connections  at  the  North  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Philip,  whose  curiosity  was  not  yet  satisfied. 

"  No  end  of  them,"  said  Harry ;  "  they  are  kin  to  all 
the  big-bugs  in  the  United  States." 

"  Miss  Brooks  is  quite  pretty,  but  she  lacks  style," 
remarked  the  lady. 

"  Of  course  she  does.  That's  a  plant  that  doesn't 
grow  down  here,"  said  Harry ;  "  wire  grass  and  poke 
weed  have  rooted  it  out." 

Percy  laughed  and  said,  "  Mr.  Holcombe,  if  you  are 
so  tart,  I  shall  suspect  that  you  are  more  interested  in 
Miss  Brooks  than  you  are  willing  to  confess." 

"  I  have  told  you  already  that  I  am  interested  in  every 
pretty  woman,"  he  replied ;  "  Miss  Brooks  comes  in  for 
her  share." 

"  But  there  is  something  more  than  that,  I  am  sure," 
she  insisted. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  he  asked  ;  "  well,  I  would  not 
be  so  rude  as  to  contradict  a  lady." 

"  Mr.  Brooks  looks  like  an  Englishman,"  Percy  con 
tinued  ;  "  he  has  a  distingu£  air." 

"  He  is  like  his  mother,"  said  the  Colonel ;  "  she  was 
a  large,  handsome  woman,  with  a  fresh  complexion  and 


EEDBANK.  193 

yellow  hair.  I  remember  her  well.  She  did  not  live 
long ;  she  died  of  some  kind  of  fever.  That  was  at 
least  twenty  years  ago,  and  the  Judge  has  never  married 
again." 

"  What  beautiful  devotion !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Philip. 
Then  turning  to  her  husband,  "  I  hope  you  will  show 
your  love  for  me  in  that  way." 

He  only  laughed  and  said,  "  There,  now,  I  hope  you 
have  finished  with  the  Brookses ;  your  curiositj^  must 
certainly  be  satisfied  by  this  time.  I  think  you  know 
everything  about  them  except  their  ages.  Miss  Hoi- 
combe,  how  old  do  you  think  Miss  Brooks  is  ?  " 

Jessie  laughed. 

"  Ought  I  to  tell  ?  She  might  object.  Ladies  are 
said  to  be  sensitive  on  that  point." 

"  Well',  the  gentleman,  then  ;  how  old  do  you  think  he 
is  ?  Percy  will  never  be  content  until  she  knows." 

"  Anywhere  from  twenty  to  twenty-five,"  Jessie  an 
swered,  much  amused  at  the  husband's  manner.  Mrs. 
Philip  did  not  seem  to  share  in  this  feeling,  for  she 
looked  up  at  him  with  a  very  severe  expression.  After 
wards  she  continued  her  dinner  in  silence. 

Just  before  bedtime  that  same  evening,  Jessie  went 
into  the  dining-room  in  search  of  a  newspaper  which 
the  Colonel  had  mislaid.  On  her  entrance  she  was  sur 
prised  to  find  Harry,  sitting  all  alone,  his  head  bent  down 
on  both  arms  which  were  crossed  upon  the  table.  At 
first  she  thought  him  asleep,  and,  not  wishing  to  disturb 
him,  she  turned  quietly  to  leave  the  room.  Suddenly 
he  lifted  his  head,  and  said,  "  Jessie,  is  that  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  approaching  him.  She  was 
frightened  when  she  saw  how  ghastly  his  face  looked  in 
the  dim  firelight.  "  Wnat's  the  matter,  Harry  ?  "  she 
asked.  "You  look  ill?'" 


194  BEDBANE. 

"Nothing,"  he  replied.  "I'm  only  a  little  out  of 
sorts." 

"  But  you  are  very  pale ;  I  am  sure  you  are  suffering. 
Do  tell  me  if  anything  has  happened."  And  she  laid 
her  hand  tenderly  upon  his  head,  running  her  fingers 
through  his  soft  hair. 

"  Nothing  new — nothing  but  what  you  know  well 
enough  already." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  rather  aghast 
at  his  manner. 

He  laughed  a  hollow  kind  of  a  laugh,  and  answered 
with  a  curl  of  the  lip  : — "  I'm  only  feeling  the  weight 
of  my  numerous  sins.  They  are  rather  heavy,  you  know, 
and  sometimes  threaten  to  crush  a  fellow  to  the  earth." 

"  You  are  joking,  now,  I'm  sure,"  she  said,  with  a 
sense  of  relief. 

"  No,  I'm  not,"  was  the  reply.  "  I'm  a  poor  devil,  and 
to-night  I  feel  it  more  than  usual.  You  think  that  I'm 
perfectly  indifferent  to  everything,  Jessica ;  but  there 
you  make  a  mistake.  I  do  have  a  twinge  of  conscience 
now  and  then.  I'd  give  a  good  deal  to  be  a  better  fel 
low  than  I  am." 

"  Oh !  Harry,"  exclaimed  the  girl,  the  tears  springing 
to  her  eyes.  She  knew  well  enough  now,  what  was  the 
matter  with  him,  and  her  heart  was  full  of  pity.  "  Oh, 
Harry,  if  you  only  would  try  to  make  something  of 
yourself.  Just  make  one  honest  effort,  and  the  next  will 
be  easier,  and  the  next  easier  still.  It  is  the  first  step 
that  costs." 

"  Yes,  I  know  it,"  he  said,  burying  his  face  in  his 
hands.  Soon  he  looked  up  and  continued,  "  Jessie,  I 
would  be  strong  enough  for  any  effort,  if  I  had  the 
hope  of  winning  her  in  the  end,  but  it  maddens  me  to 
feel  that  she  belongs  to  another." 


BEDBANK.  195 

"  Harry,  you  are  not  worthy  of  the  love  of  any  woman 
now ;  make  yourself  worthy,  and  then,  though  she  is 
lost  to  you,  there  are  other  noble  women  in  the  world 
to  whom  you  may  aspire." 

"  What  do  I  care  for  all  the  rest ! "  he  exclaimed ; 
"  they  might  sink  together  in  a  wrecked  ship  if  only 
she  were  saved." 

"  Harry,  she  will  soon  belong  to  another,  and  it  will 
be,  a  sin  for  you  to  love  her  then." 

"There  is  no  sin  in  a  pure  love,"  he  cried,  "even 
though  the  woman  who  inspires  it  is  a  thousand  times 
married.  I  shall  love  her  as  long  as  there  is  life  in  my 
body.  When  I'm  dead,  it  will  be  the  only  part  of  me 
that  will  be  immortal.  And  I  believe  she  loves  me 
too.  I  could  see  that  she  was  suffering  to-day,  just  as 
well  as  I  was."  • 

"  You  are  mistaken,  I'm  sure,  Harry.  She  is  not  the 
kind  of  girl  to  marry  unless  she  loves  very  deeply,  and 
she  is  certainly  going  to  marry  her  cousin." 

"  Well,  I  only  know  that  she  doesn't  look  now  as 
she  did  last  winter.  I've  seen  a  light  in  her  eyes  that's 
not  there  now.  I've  seen  her  flush  and  flutter;  and 
I've  felt  her  little  hand  tremble  in  mine.  Confound 
that  cousin  of  hers !  I'd  -  like  to  kick  him  back  to 
Europe.  I  believe  that  I  could  have  won  her,  if  it  had 
not  been  for  the  whole  lot  of  them.  Jessie,"  he 
exclaimed,  wildly,  "  the  thought  of  her  pursues  me 
like  a  fiend,  I  cannot  get  rid  of  it.  If  I  go  to  perdi 
tion,  it  will  be  her  fault.  She  could  have  saved  me 
easy  enough." 

"  You  ought  not  to  blame  her,  Harry.  She  must  have 
felt  that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  marry  you,  or  she  would 
not  have  rejected  you." 

"I  know  I  could  make  her  happy,  even  if  I'm  not  as 


196  EEDEANK. 

pious  and  proper  as  a  parson.  I  would  love  her  as  a 
woman  was  never  loved  before." 

"  That  would  not  make  her  happy,  Hariy,  if  she  felt 
all  the  time  that  you  were  below  her  standard  of  man 
hood.  I  know  her  well,  and  her  ideals  are  high." 

"  I  know  it,"  he  said ;  "  but  I  could  have  reached 
even  up  to  her  standard,  if  she  had  only  consented  to 
be  my  wife." 

As  he  spoke,  there  was  a  look  in  his  eyes  that 
Jessie  had  never  seen  there  before — that  she  never 
saw  again.  He  run  his  fingers  through  his  hair  in  an 
absent-minded  way,  as  if  trying  to  relieve  the  restless 
ness  and  wretchedness  of  his  soul. 

"Jessie,"  he  continued  after  a  few  moments,  "I  do 
believe  I  will  try  to  make  something  of  myself.  I 
would  like  to  have  her  feel  that  she  has  made  a  mistake, 
that  there  is  something  in  me  after  all ;  that  I'm  not 
absolutely  and  entirely  good-for-nothing." 

"  Oh  !  Harry,  if  you  only  would.  Do  not  drink  any 
more.  Do  not  gamble  any  more.  Find  sdme  honest 
work  to  do ,  and  do  it  with  all  your  might.  You  are 
still  so  young — the  future  is  all  yours." 

He  looked  at  her  steadily  for  a  minute,  and  then  said. 
"  Jessie,  you  are  a  good  little  thing ;  you  ought  to  enter 
the  ministry.  You  have  a  real  talent  for  preaching." 

The  color  rushed  to  her  face,  but  she  said  nothing.  It 
was  like  Harry  to  disappoint  expectation  by  such  tricks 
of  speech.  She  could  not  continue  the  conversation  any 
longer,  and  arose  to  leave  the  room.  He  saw  that  he 
had  hurt  her,  and  had  the  grace  to  say,  "  I  wasn't  making 
fun,  Jessie ;  I  was  really  in  earnest.  It  does  me  more 
good  to  have  a  talk  Avith  you,  than  to  go  to  church.  I 
think  you  understand  me  better  than  anybody  else  does, 
you  were  mistaken  when  you  thought  I  was  in 


ItEVBANK.  197 

love  with  Mrs.  Philip  Winston.  I've  got  more  sense 
than  to  commit  such  a  folly  as  that.  But  one  must 
have  a  little  fun  sometimes.  Even  then  the  world  is 
dull  enough."  He  sighed  and  began  to  rap  on  the 
table  with  his  fingers.  Soon  he  turned  abruptly  to  his 
sister  and  said : 

"  Don't  despair  of  me  altogether,  Jessie  ;  perhaps  even 
yet,  I  may  be  '  plucked  as  a  brand  from  the  burning.' 
Isn't  that  the  way  the  preachers  put  it  ?  You  mustn't 
give  me  up,  dear ;  if  you  do,  I'm  afraid  I  shall  travel 
downhill  pretty  fast." 

"  Harry,  dear,  I  would  die  to  save  you,"  she  said,  in 
earnest,  solemn  tones. 

"  That  would  be  very  silly,"  he  answered  ;  "  it  would 
be  like  giving  a  million  of  dollars  for  a  pop-gun.  I'm 
not  worth  any  such  price.  Don't  think  about  me  any 
more.  Go  to  bed,  and  sleep  like  a  good  girl." 

"  Good-night,"  she  said,  and  in  a  few  moments  she 
was  gone. 

Again  Harry  Holcombe  crossed  his  arms  upon  the 
table  and  bent  down  his  head.  Why  should  we  try  to 
guess  the  thoughts  and  feelings  that  were  struggling 
within  him  ?  Let  us  rather  leave  him  to  the  silence  of 
that  lonely  room. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  next  morning,  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  did  not 
appear  at  the  breakfast-table.  Her  husband,  whose 
manner  was  silent  and  sullen,  explained  her  absence  by 
saying  that  she  had  sprained  her  ankle  slightly  the  even 
ing  before,  and  found  herself  unable  to  walk  without 
pain.  She  had  caught  the  heel  of  her  slipper  in  the 
loose  braid  of  her  skirt,  and  had  fallen  headlong  on  the 
floor.  At  the  time  she  had  laughed,  for  the  injury 
appeared  to  be  very  slight ;  but  in  the  morning  she  had 
found  her  ankle  much  swollen  and  very  painful.  Mr. 
Philip  seemed  to  be  angry  with  her,  angry  with  the  high 
heels,  angry  with  the  loose  braid,  angry  with  everything. 
The  mood  was  a  new  phase  of  character.  What  had 
happened  between  himself  and  wife,  no  one  knew,  but 
evidently  his  temper  was  seriously  ruffled.  Every  one 
was  silent  and  constrained.  At  last  the  meal  was  over, 
and  the  family  arose  and  left  the  table. 

For  almost  a  week  Percy  was  compelled  to  keep  her 
room.  Everybody  was  full  of  sympathy  for  her,  and 
each  one  made  some  contribution  to  her  entertainment. 

Harry  alone  was  excluded  from  the  sick-room.  For  a 
few  days  he  wandered  around  aimlessly,  looking  rather 
disconsolate.  At  length  one  morning  he  went  off  to  the 
city  with  a  wagon-load  of  cotton.  He  did  not  return 
in  the  evening,  and  no  message  came  to  tell  where  he 
had  gone,  how  long  he  intended  to  stay,  or  when  he 


REDl}  AN K.  199 

expected  to  return.  From  the  bottom  of  her  soul  Jessie 
pitied  him. 

When  Percy's  ankle  was  well  and  she  was  able  to 
leave  her  room,  she  looked  pale  and  subdued.  Even 
the  Colonel,  who  was  usually  too  much  absorbed  in  his 
own  affairs  to  be  very  observant,  remarked  the  change, 
and  expressed  his  regret  anew  for  an  .accident  which 
must  have  cost  her  much  pain.  She  smiled  and  thanked 
him,  but  declared  herself  all  right  again,  and  happy  to 
join  the  family  gatherings. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Philip,  "  I  am  sincerely  glad  that 
the  injury  was  no  more  serious.  Those  high  heels  are 
very  dangerous,  but  women  will  wear  them,  even  at  the 
risk  of  falling  and  laming  themselves  for  life." 

"  I  have  always  worn  them,"  replied  Percy,  very  coldly 
and  quietly,  "  and  I  have  never  before  fallen.  I  think 
people  are  liable  to  fall,  heels  or  no  heels  ;  only  it  is 
a  great  satisfaction  to  be  able  to  lay  the  blame  on  some 
body  or  something." 

"You  are  right,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  smiling ;  "we 
get  rid  of  half  our  annoyance  over  a  mishap,  if  we  can 
only  find  somebody  to  put  the  blame  on. 

"  That's  very  true,"  replied  Mr.  Philip  ;  "  but,  in  this 
case,  I  insist  upon  the  actual  guilt  of  those  high  heels. 
I  hate  them.  I  have  a  great  mind  to  cut  them  all 
off." 

"  I  guess  you  won't,"  said  his  wife,  in  the  same  cool, 
quiet  tone.  Every  one  felt  that  a  dangerous  point  had 
been  reached  in  the  controversy,  and  the  subject  was 
dropped.  Nothing  is  so  indescribable,  and  yet  so  quickly 
felt,  as  the  want  of  sympathy  and  harmony  in  the  mem 
bers  of  a  family.  This  indefinable  something  was  now 
present  at  Redbaiik.  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  was  changed. 
Day  after  day  this  fac^  became  more  apparent.  Jessie's 


200  REDBANK. 

keen  eye  noted  a  new  expression  in  her  face,  a  listless, 
unhappy  expression,  very  different  from  the  bright,  self- 
satisfied  consciousness  of  a  few  weeks  ago.  She  was  no 
longer  restless.  She  no  longer  appeared  to  find  real 
enjoyment  in  anything ;  she  seemed  all  the  time  to  be 
looking,  waiting,  listening  for  some  one.  Yet  she  never 
once  mentioned  Harry's  name,  nor  asked  what  had  be 
come  of  him.  This  reticence  was  unnatural  in  one  so 
full  of  curiosity.  There  was  but  one  explanation  for  it ; 
she  must  have  divined  the  truth — she  must  have  analyzed 
her  own  feelings  as  well  as  fathomed  his.  In  the  mean 
time,  her  manner  towards  her  husband  was  still  cold 
and  distant.  He  had,  without  doubt,  done  or  said  some 
thing  that  had  deeply  offended  her,  and  she  was  slow  to 
forgive.  Nor  did  he  show  any  sign  of  relenting.  There 
was  no  expression  of  a  desire  for  reconciliation  in  his 
manner  or  face.  Mrs.  Winston  looked  upon  this  drama 
of  married  life  with  sad  interest.  She  saw  the  danger 
for  both  in  this  hard,  cold  attitude,  and  she  determined  to 
talk  with  Percy  and  try  to  influence  her  for  good.  One 
rainy  afternoon,  she  went  to  the  young  wife's  room  with 
a  tray  of  fruit.  She  rapped  several  times  at  the  door 
without  receiving  a  response  ;  then,  thinking  that  Percy 
might  be  out  or  asleep,  and  that  it  would  be  well  to 
leave  the  fruit  as  a  surprise  for  her,  she  softly  turned 
the  knob.  When  the  door  opened,  she  saw  a  white  figure 
lying  in  a  heap  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  the  face  buried 
deep  in  a  pillow.  A  faint  sob  reached  her  ear.  In  a 
moment,  she  was  beside  the  prostrate  form. 

"  What  is  it,  dear  ?  "  she  whispered  tenderly,  "  are 
you  ill  ?  Why  did  you  not  call  for  some  one  ?  Cannot 
I  do  something  for  you  ?  " 

Percy  raised  a  pale  and  tear-stained  face.  "  No,  I  am 
not  ill — I  am  only  tired,  fearfully  tired." 


EEDBANK.  201 

"  Will  you  not  let  me  get  you  a  glass  of  wine  ?  "  said 
Mrs.  Winston,  "  I'm  afraid  you  have  taken  cold." 

"  No,  no,"  was  the  answer,  "  I  do  not  want  anything, 
and  I  have  not  taken  cold.  I  shall  feel  better  presently. 
Sit  down  beside  me.  I  think  your  presence  will  do  me 
good." 

Eleanor  seated  herself  on  the  edge  of  the  bed,  and 
began  to  stroke  the  soft  tangled  hair  that  fell  loosely 
over  the  pillow.  She  had  no  great  love  or  admiration 
for  her  young  sister-in-law,  but  remembering  the  many 
sorrows  of  her  own  married  life,  she  pitied  her,  and  sin 
cerely  desired  to  help  her. 

In  a  short  time,  Percy  said,  softly,  "  I  am  better  now. 
I  like  the  touch  of  your  fingers  on  my  head — it  feels  so 
soft  and  nice.  I  don't  really  know  why  I  was  crying, 
but  I  feel  very  sad  and  lonely  to-day." 

"  It  must  be  the  monotony  of  the  place  that  oppresses 
you,"  said  Mrs.  Winston.  "  I  wish  we  knew  how  to 
entertain  you  better,  but  indeed  our  resources  are  very 
limited,  dear.  It  must  be  hard  for  you,  and  different 
from  anything  you  have  ever  known." 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  very  simply,  "  it  is ;  but  please 
don't  think  that  I  fail  to  appreciate  the  kindness  of 
every  one.  You  have  all  been  so  good  and  nice  to  me, 
but  somehow  I  long  for  a  change.  _  I  have  been  so  used 
to  gayety  that  I'm  afraid  I  cannot  live  without  it." 

"  I  understand  the  feeling,  "  said  Mrs.  Winston  ;  "  It 
is  perfectly  natural  for  young  people  to  love  gayety.  I 
used  to  love  it  once  myself,  but  I've  learned  to  find 
enjoyment  in  other  things.  Redbank  is  a  dull  place 
for  a  pretty  creature  like  you." 

"  Why  does  Philip  like  it  so  much  ?  "  she  asked  ;  "  I 
cannot  make  it  out.  Sometimes  he  talks  of  buying  a 
plantation.  I  believe  that  I  would  go  insane,  if  I  were 


202  tttiDK  AffiR. 

compelled  to  lead  such  a  lonely  life.     The  very  thought 
of  it  is  terrible    to  me.      You   don't   think  he  will  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  no,  I  don't  believe  he  really  likes  it  himself  > 
he  only  feels  refreshed  by  the  quiet.  Besides,  dear,  all 
plantations  are  not  like  this.  You  must  not  make  up 
your  mind  too  hastily.  And  then  you  are  rich,  and 
could  have  a-11  the  company  you  want.  You  could  keep* 
your  house  filled  with  pleasant  guests." 

"  Where  would  I  find  them?  "  she  asked,  helplessly  ; 
"  All  the  people  I  know  in  the  world  are  far  away  from 
here.  Besides,  I  love  all  the  diversions  of  the  city  too 
well  to  be  contented  in  the  country.  It  would  kill  me 
— indeed  it  would ;  and  I  don't  believe  Philip  would 
even  grieve  over  me,  if  I  died.  Do  you  know  I'm  be 
ginning  to  feel  that  I  shall  not  make  him  happy.  He 
is  so  much  older  than  I  am,  and  so  unlike  me  in  every 
respect,  and  somehow  I  seem  so  little  to  him.  He  is 
quite  content  to  be  with  the  Colonel — he  forgets  me 
entirely." 

"  But,  my  dear,  that  will  not  be  the  case  when  you 
leave  here,"  said  Mrs.  Winston  ;  "  Philip  is  very  fond 
of  his  brother,  and  very  interested  in  all  the  affairs  of 
the  plantation.  Remember  he  spent  his  boyhood  here, 
and  likes  to  visit  every  familiar  spot." 

"  I'm  afraid  that's  not  the  whole  truth,"  Percy  an 
swered,  sadly  ;  "  I  do  not  seem  to  be  at  all  necessary  to 
his  happiness." 

"  Well,  you  must  learn  to  make  yourself  necessary," 
said  Mrs.  Winston  ;  "  that  will  be  an  easy  task  for  one 
so  charming  as  yourself." 

"  How  ?  "  she  asked,  in  a  listless  way. 

"  1  cannot  tell  you,  dear  ;  I  wish  I  could.  I  suppose 
you  must  find  out  what  he  likes,  and  do,  or  be 
that." 


It  ED  BANK.  £03 

"I  cannot,"  she  said,  wearily.  "  Oh  !  I  wish  I  were  at 
home  again,  ir  my  father's  house." 

"  Well,  my  dear  child,  you  are  going  to  return  in  a 
few  weeks.  When  you  are  back  again,  you  will  have  so 
many  interests  and  occupations  that  I  am  sure  you  will 
be  happy.  This  is  only  a  rainy  day, — 

'  Into  each  heart  some  rain  must  fall, 
Some  days  must  be  dark  and  dreary.'  " 

There  was  a  long  silence.  Finally,  the  young  wife 
said — "•  And  do  you  think  that  Philip  really  cares  for 
me?  He  has  been  so  cold  of  late.  He  treats  me  as  if  I 
were  a  naughty  child.  It  is  not  right  for  him  to  act 
so — it  makes  me  angry." 

"  How  can  he  help  loving  you,  my  dear,"  said 
Mi's.  Winston.  "  You  must  not  indulge  in  such  suspi 
cions.  You  are  his  wife,  and  you  must  take  it  for 
granted  that  he  loves  you.  To  doubt  is  treason.  Don't 
begin  your  married  life  by  expecting  too  much  from 
your  husband.  Give  liberally  yourself,  and  try  to  be 
satisfied  with  what  you  get  in  return." 

"  But  he  is  so  different  from  what  I  used  to  think  he 
was.  He  seemed  to  worship  me  before  we  were  mar 
ried;  he  was  always  paying  me  the  most  extravagant 
compliments,  and  was  ready  to  gratify  every  wish  that 
I  could  express.  I  thought  him  absolutely  perfect." 

"  No  human  being  is  perfect,  Percy,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston.  "  You  must  not  be  disappointed,  if  you  find 
that  your  husband  has  faults  as  well  as  others.  Remem 
ber  that  you  are  not  perfect  yourself.  Perhaps  he  finds 
a  difference  in  you  also." 

She  looked  up  and  laughed.  "  I  daresay  he  does. 
Indeed  he  tells  me  so  half  a  dozen  times  every  day. 


204  11EDBANK. 

Do  you  wonder  that  I  get  vexed  with  him  ?  I'm  sure 
I  don't  know  what  I  do  that  he  should  talk  to  me  so." 

Mrs.  Winston  could  not  help  smiling.  It  was  useless  to 
give  advice  to  this  pretty  self-centred  creature.  "  Well, 
you  must  not  cry  any  more,"  she  said ;  "  I  know  it 
would  vex  Philip  to  see  you  in  tears — he  would  not  un 
derstand  it." 

"  Of  course,  he  wouldn't,"  Percy  exclaimed,  with  a 
curl  of  the  lip  ;  "  he  always  gets  angry  when  I  cry — as 
if  I  did  not  miss  many  things  that  I  used  to  have,  and 
feel  the  dreadful  change.  I  assure  you  there's  enough 
to  make  me  cry.  I  have  given  up  a  great  deal  for  his 
sake." 

"  My  dear,  every  woman  gives  up  a  great  deal  when 
she  marries,"  said  Mrs.  Winston  ;  "but  there  are  compen 
sations.  The  man  thinks  that  he  gives  up  a  great  deal 
too." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what !  "  she  cried  impatiently. 
"  Philip  will  not  even  give  up  smoking  for  my  sake, 
though  he  knows  that  I  detest  it.  I  don't  believe  he  would 
change  the  style  of  his  necktie  or  the  cut  of  his  coat,  to 
save  my  life." 

"  Oh,  yes,  he  would,  if  your  life  were  at  stake,  dear  ; 
perhaps  he  might  not  be  willing  to  do  it  merely  to  grat 
ify  a  whim  on  your  part." 

"  Well,  I  always  wear  just  what  he  likes  ;  he  has  only 
to  express  a  preference,  and  I  am  ready  to  please  him. 
I  don't  see  why  he  can't  do  as  much  for  me,  without 
feeling  that  he  is  making  a  terrible  sacrifice.  When 
ever  I  ask  him  to  do  or  not  to  do  any  little  thing,  he 
simply  ignores  me." 

Eleanor  Winston  listened  to  all  these  grievances  of 
the  spoiled  child  with  a  sad  heart.  Her  own  married 
life  had  been  wretchedly  poor  in  the  love  and  sympathy 


REDBANK.  205 

that  every  woman  craves.  Here  was  another  life  which 
was  threatened  with  the  same  cruel  privation.  She 
could  only  hope  that  Percy's  heart  would  be  less  keenly 
alive  to  the  sorrow  and  bitterness  of  this  destitution  than 
her  own  had  been.  Soon  the  young  wife  exclaimed — 
"  For  my  part,  I  think  marriage  is  a  very  one-sided 
affair.  The  woman  is  altogether  married,  and  the  man 
not  at  all." 

Again  she  laughed. 

"  And  sometimes  it  is  just  the  other  way,"  said  Mrs. 
Winston  ;  "  don't  be  too  hard  on  the  men,  my  dear ;  some 
times  I  feel  very  sorry  for  them.  They  have  their  bur 
dens  too.  But  one  thing  is  very  true,  after  a  man 
and  woman  are  married,  they  must  both  make  the  best 
of  it.  They  cannot  get  out  of  it  without  losing  much 
more  than  they  gain.  Percy,  dear,  when  you  are  once 
more  at  home,  you  will  not  feel  all  these  little  frictions 
that  vex  you  so  much  now.  There  will  be  many  new 
occupations  to  fill  up  your  time.  You  have  everything 
to  make  you  happy,  dear ;  you  have  only  to  mix  the 
materials  aright,  and  the  result  will  be  beautiful.  There, 
cheer  up,  my  child,  and  give  your  husband  a  sweet  kiss 
of  welcome,  when  he  comes.  I  must  go  now.  I  shall 
expect  to  see  you  perfectly  radiant  at  dinner.  Put  on 
that  black  velvet  dress  which  makes  you  look  so 
queenly.  Good-bye."  And  Mrs.  Winston  left  the 
room,  and  closed  the  door  softly  behind  her. 

For  a  long  time  Percy  lay  quietly  on  the  bed,  think 
ing  in  her  fragmentary  way.  She  was  inclined  to 
believe  that  her  sister-in-law  was  right.  There  was  no 
use  in  sulking  and  crying  and  getting  up  scenes.  She 
was  married  now  ;  she  had  decided  the  matter  for  her 
self  ;  from  her  numerous  suitors,  she  had  chosen  the 


206  PEDBANK. 

most  distinguished-looking  man  ;  she  had  had  a  magnif 
icent  trousseau  and  a  grand  Avedding.  If  every  single 
day  since  that  happy  event  had  not  been  filled  with 
sunshine,  she  must  not  fall  into  complaints  and  spoil 
her  eyes  by  weeping — there  was  no  use  in  it.  She  did 
admire  her  husband  very  much.  In  his  own  particular 
sphere  at  home  he  was  splendid.  When  he  returned  to 
the  city  with  her,  she  knew  she  would  be  proud  of  him 
—he  was  so  greatly  superior  to  the  husbands  of  her  various 
schoolmates  and  friends,  then  she  thought  of  the  enter 
tainments  she  would  give,  and  those  to  which  she  would  be 
invited,  of  the  concerts  and  theatre  parties  to  which  she 
would  lend  her  charming  presence.  Gradually  the  un 
pleasant  experiences  of  the  past  few  weeks  faded  from 
her  mind,  and  she  arose  from  the  bed  and  began  the 
mysteries  of  her  elaborate  toilette.  When  at  length 
her  husband  entered  he  was  delighted  to  find  her 
resplendent  in  velvet  and  diamonds.  He  approached 
her  with  the  old-time  admiration  and  compliments. 
She  smiled  and  put  up  her  lips  to  be  kissed. 

"  We  won't  quarrel  any  more,  will  we  ?  "  she  said. 

"  I  hope  not,"  he  replied ;  "  it's  awfully  uncomfort 
able,  and  does  no  good." 

"  Then,  you  mustn't  be  cross  to  me,"  she  said. 

"  And  don't  be  cross  yourself,  my  dear,"  he  answered. 
They  both  laughed.  He  sat  down  in  a  large  arm-chair, 
and  she  seated  herself  on  his  lap. 

At  dinner,  Percy  satisfied  the  expectations'  of  her 
sister-in-law.  She  was  herself  again.  After  all,  the 
little  heart  was  not  broken.  Perhaps  it  had  felt  a 
pang  or  two,  but  that  kind  of  suffering  does  not  merit 
pity ;  it  is  only  an  antidote  to  vanity. 

A  week  later,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  Winston  left  Red- 
bank.  Thanks  were  most  graciously  expressed  for  the 


EEUBANK.  207 

kind  entertainment  they  had  received,  and  regrets  that 
so  delightful  a  visit  had  at  length  come  to  an  end. 
They  continued  their  wedding-journey  to  Florida  and 
New  Orleans,  and  by  the  beginning  of  the  New  Year 
were  at  home  again. 

After  their  departure,  a  change  came  over  the  Colonel. 
His  late  genial  mood  gave  place  to  gloom  and  ill-temper. 

Again  he  went  through  the  house,  slamming  the 
doors,  scolding  the  servants,  and  kicking  the  dogs. 
Jessie  was  glad  that  Harry  was  out  of  the  way,  and  that 
the  shower  of  epithets  usually  lavished  on  him  now  fell 
on  the  head  of  Peyton.  The  negro  only  grinned,  and 
bore  it  with  amiable  resignation. 

After  a  few  days,  the  young  girl  heard  with  astonish 
ment  that  the  plantation  of  Redbank  had  been  mort 
gaged  to  the  Colonel's  brother. 

"  This,  then,  was  why  he  brought  his  bride  to  see  us — 
this  is  the  southern  plantation  over  which  some  day 
she  is  to  preside  as  mistress,"  said  Eleanor,  in  a  tone  of 
bitterness.  "  I  never  thought  much  of  Philip,  but  I 
confess  I  did  not  believe  him  quite  so  selfish  and  mean. 
It  has  wounded  the  Colonel  terribly ;  his  whole  aim 
now  will  be  to  pay  back  the  money  which  he  owes 
Philip,  and  redeem  Redbank.  He  loves  this  old  plan 
tation  with  a  proud  and  foolish  affection.  It  would 
break  his  heart  to  part  with  it ;  it  is  his  title-deed  to 
nobility."  She  sighed  as  she  spoke,  for  no  one  realized 
so  well  as  herself  the  hopeless  entanglement  into  which 
her  husband's  affairs  were  slowly  drifting. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ALICE  had  sent  Jessie  an  invitation  to  visit  her.  She 
had  written  a  pleading  little  note  which  it  was  impos 
sible  to  resist,  and  the  two  friends  were  again  together. 
The  affection  between  them  had  been  strengthened  rather 
than  weakened  by  absence.  In  her  own  home,  Alice  was 
like  her  former  self.  The  effort  to  entertain  her4  guest 
effaced  even  the  slight  traces  of  a  change  in  character. 
She  had  always  been  gentle,  silent,  and  reserved — she 
was  scarcely  more  so  now.  Mr.  Waverley  Brooks  was 
a  visitor  at  The  Grove,  and  Jessie  daily  saw  the  cousins 
together.  She  was  puzzled  to  understand  them.  The 
manner  of  each  to  the  other  was  frank,  familiar,  and  deli 
cately  polite,  but  it  was  difficult  to  believe  that  they  were 
lovers.  No  tender  little  glances  ever  passed  between 
them — no  softly-whispered  words.  Jessie  had  had  but 
little  experience  in  love  affairs,  but  she  knew  that  there 
were  endless  varieties  of  the  disease.  She  made  up  her 
mind  that  this  was  a  very  mild  form.  Having  been 
engaged  from  childhood,  they  had  probably  passed  the 
violent  crisis,  and  were  now  on  the  road  to  recovery. 
It  was  almost  the  same  as  being  married — they  had 
grown  so  used  to  each  other.  Alice  was  a  charming 
little  hostess ;  she  was  always  thinking  of  something 
pleasant  for  Jessie  to  do.  She  showed  a  great  .desire  to 
promote  the  acquaintance  between  her  friend  and  her 
cousin,  and  threw  them  much  together.  She  insisted 
that  Waverley  should  tell  Jessie  and  herself  all  about 


REDBANK.  209 

his  life  in  Europe.  With  eager  interest  the  two  girls 
looked  over  the  piles  of  photographs  which  illustrated 
his  journey  from  country  to  country.  They  had  both 
read  and  studied  enough  to  be  familiar  with  much  that 
he  told  them  ;  it  was  just  that  kind  of  familiarity  which 
asks  intelligent  questions. 

"  It  is  better  than  going  to  Europe  oneself,"  exclaimed 
Alice,  "  for  we  can  have  it  all  without  stirring  from  this 
dear,  comfortable  old  room." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  there  must 
be  great  enjoyment  in  travelling.  The  continual  move 
ment  and  excitement  and  variety  must  be  delightful !  " 

"  Waverley,  what  country  did  you  enjoy  most  ? " 
asked  his  cousin. 

"  In  a  way,  I  enjoyed  all,"  he  answered.  "  I  liked 
England  because  it  was  somewhat  like  home,  and  yet 
full  of  all  kinds  of  interesting  objects  that  one  does  not 
find  in  America — ruins,  cathedrals,  castles,  and  quaint 
old  towns  and  villages.  I  tramped  over  it  from  one 
end  to  the  other,  and  it  all  seemed  beautiful  to  me,  the 
quiet  lake  scenery,  the  cliffs  of  Cornwall,  the  moors  of 
Yorkshire,  and  the  downs  of  Sussex.  Then  I  liked 
France  immensely  ;  the  country  is  picturesque,  and  the 
people  gay  and  charming.  I  spent  the  best  part  of 
a  summer  with  a  party  of  artists,  going  through  Nor 
mandy  and  Brittany,  and  we  had  a  glorious  time.  Then 
Switzerland  is  grand  beyond  description.  To  climb  its 
mountains  tones  one  up  to  a  pitch  of  sublimity.  Its  air 
is  so  exhilarating  that  it  makes  one  feel  heroic.  But 
Italy  is  the  country  that  best  satisfies  the  artist.  Its 
wonderful  sky  gives  a  charm  to  everything — lakes, 
rivers,  mountains,  and  plains,  all  seem  a  part  of  dream 
land.  Its  beautiful  old  cities  are  filled  with  the  richest 
and  rarest  treasures  of  art.  It  is  almost  impossible  to 


•210  REDBANK. 

exhaust  them.  Oh,  it  is  a  wonderful  land !  I  often 
felt  that  I  would  like  to  linger  there  forever,  going 
from  town  to  town,  and  studying  history,  art,  and  music 
side  by  side.  I  want  to  go  there  to  live  some  day." 

"  And  what  city  would  you  select  for  your  home  ?  " 
asked  Alice. 

"  I  would  go  from  one  to  another.  I  would  choose 
Venice  and  the  Lakes  for  spring,  some  villa  in  the  high 
Apennines  for  summer,  Florence  and  Rome  in  the 
autumn,  and  Naples  in  winter.  With  some  sweet,  con 
genial  spirit  to  enjoy  it  with  me,  the  existence  would 
be  simply  divine." 

"  Well,  I  know  I  would  not  like  it,"  said  Mrs. 
Brooks ;  "  I  had  rather  be  in  my  own  home,  and  have 
things  exactly  as  I  want  them.  It  was  bad  enough  last 
summer — it  would  be  worse  still  in  Europe.  So  you 
need  not  invite  me  to  go  with  you,  Waverley,"  and  the 
old  lady  smiled. 

"  And  what  do  you  say,  Alice  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  flushed  slightly,  and  then  said,  "  You  know  I  am 
not  fond  of  travelling,  and  I  would  be  dreadfully  con 
fused  by  so  many  things  to  see  all  the  time.  I  would 
soon  grow  tired  and  long  for  The  Grove  and  my  books." 

"  But  you  could  take  the  books  along  with  you,  or 
buy  some  more  there,"  he  replied. 

"  But  I  like  to  read  them  in  some  bright,  particular 
spot,  some  cosy  rocking-chair  in  a  certain  corner — some 
cushioned  window-sill,  from  which  I  can  look  out  upon 
a  familiar  view." 

"  I'm  afraid  you  have  grown  too  foreign,  Mr.  Brooks, 
to  deserve  an  American  wife,"  said  Jessie ;  "  you  will 
have  to  choose  a  dreamy  Italian  girl." 

"  Did  you  fall  in  love  with  any  of  them,  Waverley  ?  " 
asked  Alice.  "  Now,  speak  the  truth — honor  bright." 


REDBANK.  211 

"  Of  course,  I  did,"  he  replied,  laughing  gayly ;  "  I 
was  always  falling  in  love,  wherever  I  went ;  superfi 
cially,  you  know,  for  I  had  a  well-rooted  .attachment 
before  I  left  home,"  and  he  looked  up  at  his  cousin. 
Again  a  delicate  color  came  into  her  cheeks. 

"Do  tell  us  about  your  various  love  affairs,"  she  ex 
claimed,  "  it  will  be  very  amusing." 

"  Are  you  perfectly  sure  you  will  like  to  hear  about 
them  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Indeed  I  am  ! — perfectly  sure  !  "  she  answered  em 
phatically. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "I  met  my  first  love  in  England. 
One  day,  while  in  London,  I  went  to  the  Royal  Acad 
emy  to  see  the  pictures.  Soon  after  entering,  I  saw  a 
tall,  elegant  creature — a  perfect  vision  of  loveliness,  mov 
ing  slowly  around  from  canvas  to  canvas,  and  studying 
her  catalogue  very  devoutly.  I  took  my  seat  in  a  com 
fortable  corner,  and  gave  up  my  time  entirely  to 
looking  at  her.  Afterwards  I  found  out  that  she  was 
an  Earl's  daughter,  and  quite  beyond  my  reach.  Seeing 
that  those  grapes  were  sour,  I  turned  away  and  left 
them." 

"  Describe  her  to  us,  Mr.  Brooks,"  said  Jessie ;  "  I  am 
curious  to  know  what  an  Earl's  daughter  looks  like. 
There  must  be  a  halo  around  her  head." 

"  She  was  very  fair  and  tall — a  kind  of  Scandinavian 
goddess,  with  great  liquid  blue  eyes,  and  such  a  maze 
of  gold-colored  hair  around  her  face  as  I  had  never 
before  seen.  Yes,  she  did  seem  to  wear  a  halo  about 
her  head.  I  followed  her  when  she  left  the  gallery, 
and  saw  her  drive  away  in  a  handsome  carriage  with  a 
coronet  upon  the  panels,  and  a  coachman  and  footman 
in  livery.  I  was  curious  to  know  who  she  was,  so  I 
went  to  the  custodian  and  found  out.  Lady  Geraldine 


212  REDBANK. 

Stacy  was  her  name.  Well,  I  got  over  that  hopeless 
passion  after  a  while.  I  saw  from  the  papers  that  she 
was  going  to  marry  a  duke,  so  I  knew  there  was  no 
chance  for  me."  Here  he  paused. 

"  Do  go  on  ! "  said  Alice ;  "  it  is  like  a  charming 
romance." 

"  Let  me  see — I  was  in  Paris,  I  believe,  when  my  next 
grand  passion  seized  me.  I  was  sauntering  around  the 
Madeleine  one  afternoon,  looking  at  the  flower-show  in 
a  listless  way,  when  I  saw  the  daintiest,  most  distract 
ing  little  creature  come  up,  and  begin  to  bargain  for 
some  roses.  She  had  lovely  dark  eyes  and  lips  like 
cherries.  It  was  perfectly  intoxicating  to  watch  her; 
she  moved  in  a  fairy,  floating  way  as  if  she  were  swim 
ming  in  the  air.  I  followed  her  for  quite  a  distance, 
and  saw  her  finally  disappear  in  the  Magasin  du  Louvre. 
I  went  to  the  Madeleine  every  day  for  a  week,  hoping 
to  get  another  glimpse  of  her,  but  all  in  vain.  One 
night,  I  was  at  the  theatre,  and  recognized  her  on  the 
stage — she  was  a  ballet-girl.  Her  .dancing  was  super 
natural.  Isn't  that  enough  ? "  he  asked,  looking  at 
Alice  and  smiling. 

"  Oh  !  no  !  "  she  said,  "  do  go  on.  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  interested  I  am." 

"  Must  I,  Miss  Holcombe  ?  Are  you  not  tired  of  lis 
tening  to  me  ?  " 

"By  no  means  ;  go  on  and  give  us  the  whole  story," 
replied  Jessie. 

"  My  next  love-affair  came  on  in  Venice.  I  had  just 
taken  an  apartment  in  an  old  palace  on  the  Grand 
Canal.  It  was  a  lovely  evening  in  June.  A  party  of 
friends  had  dined  with  me,  and  after  leaving  the  table, 
we  went  out  on  the  balcony  for  a  smoke.  We  were 
laughing  and  talking  rather  noisily,  when  we  saw  a 


JIEDBANK.  213 

gondola  approaching ;  a  lady  was  reclining  on  the 
cushions  under  a  handsome  awning.  She  had  some 
kind  of  lace  affair  over  her  head,  so  we  could  not  see 
her  face  very  well.  Soon  the  gondola  stopped  at  the 
door  of  the  palace  next  to  our  own,  and  the  lady  got 
out.  By  this  time  our  curiosity  was  excited — we  were 
all  waiting  for  something  to  happen.  About  ten  min 
utes  passed,  and  then  a  perfectly  divine  creature  came 
out  on  the  adjoining  balcony.  A  servant  in  livery 
brought  her  a  crimson  cushion,  and  she  leaned  over  the 
balustrade  and  smoked  her  cigarette  in  full  view,  eyeing 
us  with  the  most  delightful  nonchalance  imaginable. 
She  was  a  Venus  of  Milo  with  all  the  rich  coloring  of 
the  South  in  her  face.  We  were  charmed  to  see  the 
grace  with  which  she  handled  that  cigarette,  and  how 
she  puffed  out  the  cloud  of  smoke  from  her  lovely  lips. 
I  used  to  watch  her  every  evening  for  weeks,  and  she 
watched  me  with  the  same  coolness.  I  found  out  all 
about  her,  and  I'm  sorry  to  say  that  the  record  was  not 
altogether  good.  She  was  a  Signora  Marchesa,  and 
accounted  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  Venice.  She 
was  married  to  a  little  homely  fellow  at  least  twice  as 
old  as  herself,  but  immensely  rich.  I  used  to  see  him 
sometimes  passing  in  and  out  of  the  palace,  but  never 
with  her.  You  see  there  are  pretty  women  all  over  the 
world.  How  can  a  man  help  seeing  and  admiring 
them  ?  Is  there  any  harm  in  it,  Aunt  Kate  ?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  there  is,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head  and 
smiling. 

"  Well,  Alice  will  absolve  me,  I  know,"  he  replied. 
"  I'm  not  sure  but  she  has  been  using  her  time  by  fall 
ing  in  love  too." 

Again  the  girl  blushed  slightly,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  Nonsense,  Waverley,"  said  his  aunt ;  "  Alice  is  not 


214  REDBANK. 

the  kind  of  girl  to  fall  in  love  with  every  man  she  meets, 
even  if  he  does  happen  to  be  handsome." 

"  Are  you  sure  you  have  reached  the  end  of  your 
romances,  Waverley  ?  "  asked  his  cousin. 

"  I  think  I  have — I  can't  remember  any  more."  He 
paused  a  moment,  and  then  exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  yes,  I  did 
fall  in  love  with,  a  voice  once — it  haunts  me  even  now. 
Late  one  winter  afternoon,  I  was  walking  down  an  ob 
scure  street  in  London,  when  I  passed  a  little  church 
and  heard  the  tones  of  an  organ.  I  thought  I  would 
drop  in  for  the  service.  When  I  entered,  I  saw  no  one 
but  the  sexton,  who  was  walking  slowly  up  and  down 
the  aisles  ;  but  somebody  was  playing  on  the  organ.  I 
am  fond  of  music,  so  I  entered  one  of  the  pews  and  sat 
down.  Soon,  above  the  organ,  floating  upward  and  fill 
ing  the  whole  church,  I  heard  a  rich  contralto  voice,  the 
strongest,  the  purest,  the  sweetest  that  I  had  ever  list 
ened  to  in  all  my  life.  Hymn  after  hymn  was  sung,  and 
chant  after  chant.  My  curiosity  was  so  excited  that  I 
called  the  sexton,  gave  him  a  sovereign,  and  asked  him 
who  the  singer  was.  He  told  me  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  the  rector  of  the  church,  and  that  she  came 
every  afternoon  to  practice  on  the  organ.  I  used  to  go 
to  the  church  continually  just  to  hear  her  sing.  I  tried 
very  hard  to  see  her,  for  I  had  drawn  a  picture  of  her  in 
my  mind,  and  was  curious  to  know  if  there  was  any 
resemblance,  but  she  always  left  the  organ-loft  by  a 
back  stairway  which,  communicated  with  the  rectory. 
At  last,  I  got  a  glimpse  of  her ;  she  was  very  small, 
no  longer  young,  and  not  at  all  beautiful.  She  looked 
old  and  sad  and  over-worked.  It  was  a  dreadful  disap 
pointment  to  me." 

"  Well,  I  must  say  that  you  have  been  a  very  faithless 
fellow,"  said  Alice,  shaking  her  head  at  him. 


EEDBANK.  21") 

"  Now,  that's  not  fair,  when  I've  made  you  my  con 
fessor;  is  it,  Miss  Holcombe  ?  " 

"  Hardly,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  that  is,  if  you  have  told  the 
truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth." 

"  Indeed  I  have — those  were  my  very  worst  offences. 
I  did  carry  on  a  harmless  flirtation  on  the  steamer  with 
a  pretty  little  American  girl,  but  it  was  entirely  her 
fault,  I  assure  you.  She  flirted  with  every  man  on 
board,  from  the  steward  to  the  captain." 

"  How  do  your  country-women  compare  with  Euro 
pean  ladies,  Mr.  Brooks  ?  "  asked  Jessie. 

"  In  good  looks,  style  and  cleverness,  American  girls 
cannot  be  beaten  the  world  over ;  but  their  manners  are 
sometimes  too  free  and  easy.  Occasionally  I  used  to  feel 
sorry  to  see  them  flirt  so  promiscuously." 

"  Waverley,"  said  Alice,  looking  at  him  very  intently, 
"  I  want  to  know  one  thing.  Has  life  in  America  lost 
its  attractions  for  you  ?  " 

"  By  no  means,"  he  exclaimed,  emphatically ;  "  it 
is  full  of  charm  and  freshness.  I  am  proud  to  be  an 
American.  I  am  proud  to  have  a  share  in  such  a  grand 
country,  and  to  have  a  voice  in  such  a  noble  govern 
ment.  A  man  gets  tired  of  tramping  around  Europe 
forever ;  he  wants  a  country  of  his  own  and  a  part  to 
play  in  it.  In  order  to  get  real  enjoyment  out  of  life, 
a  man  wants  constant  occupation  of  a  very  earnest 
kind.  I  don't  think  I  should  be  satisfied  with  patch 
work  for  a  profession,  Aunt  Kate," — and  he  looked  at 
her  and  smiled.  "  It  seems  a  dreadful  waste  of  time 
to  cut  pieces  of  silk  into  little  bits,  and  then  ,sew  them 
together  again.  Why  don't  you  sew  the  big  pieces  at 
once,  and  then  you  will  finish  much  sooner  ?  " 

"  You  must  not  ask  questions  about  what  you  cannot 
understand,"  his  aunt  replied. 


216  EEDBANK. 

"  How  do  you  know  I  cannot  understand  ?  "  he  asked  ; 
"  I'm  sure  there's  no  great  mystery  about  it.  I  could 
easily  do  it  myself — only  it  is  not  worth  while." 

"  Let  me  see  you  do  it,"  said  Alice,  laughing.  "  Do 
give  him  some  scraps,  mother ;  let's  make  him  prove  his 
rash  assertion." 

"  No,"  said  the  lady,  very  decidedly,  "  I  shall  not  spoil 
my  silk  by  letting  him  handle  it ;  of  course,  he  believes 
himself  capable  of  doing  anything  and  everything." 

"  Please  don't  be  so  sarcastic,"  replied  the  young  man. 
"  It  makes  me  feel  like  shrivelling  up  and  sinking  out  of 
sight." 

"  Well,  Waverley,  what  is  your  opinion  of  my  knit 
ting  ?  "  asked  Alice,  holding  up  for  exhibition  the  long 
stripe  of  an  afghan.  . 

"I  don't  think  much  of  that  either  as  a  continual 
occupation,  though  when  one  has  such  pretty  hands  as 
yours  and  uses  such  bright  yarns,  the  picture  is  very 
charming.  But  knitting  is  altogether  too  slow ;  one 
does  not  merely  want  to  work — one  wants  to  see  some 
satisfactory  result." 

"As  if  this  beautiful  stripe  were  not  a  satisfactory 
result !  "  exclaimed  Alice ;  "  you  deserve  to  be  pinched." 

The  gentleman  laughed  and  said,  "  When  one  consid 
ers  that  you  have  been  at  work  on  it  all  the  summer 
and  half  the  winter,  the  result  is  wholly  insignificant. 
Now,  it  seems  to  me  that  knitting  is  only  meant  to  fill 
up  a  void ;  the  German  market-woman  knits  while  she 
sells  her  vegetables;  the  nursery-maid  knits  while  she 
watches  the  children  play  in  the  park  ;  the  shop-woman 
knits  while  she  is  waiting  for  a  customer.  You  take  the 
work  too  seriously." 

"  Waverley,  your  head  is  entirely  filled  up  with  for 
eign  ideas,"  said  Alice  ;  "  you  don't  deserve  to  live  in 


REDE  AN K.  217 

America  any  longer — you  ought  to  be  ostracized  and 
banished  to  Europe." 

"And  how  about  my  crochet  work,  Mr.  Brooks?" 
asked  Jessie,  exhibiting  a  dainty  shawl  which  she  was 
making  for  Eleanor's  birthday  present. 

"  I'm  sorry  to  say  that  it  is  open  to  the  same  objection 
as  the  knitting,"  he  answered  again,  indulging  in  a 
laugh. 

"  Well,  what  kind  of  work  would  you  recommend 
for  us  ?  You  condemn  idleness,  and  you  condemn 
our  fancy-work.  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  Jessie. 

"  Ah !  that's  altogether  another  thing,  Miss  Hoi- 
combe.  I  will  think  about  it.  Perhaps,  in  the  course 
of  time,  I  may  evolve  an  answer  out  of  the  inner  folds 
of  my  brain." 

"  Well,  in  the  meantime,  go  to  the  piano  and  give  us 
some  music." 

Like  an  obedient  servant,  he  went  to  the  instru 
ment,  opened  it,  and  began  to  play.  Jessie  Holcombe 
had  never  before  heard  anyone  touch  the  keys  with 
so  masterly  a  hand.  She  laid  down  her  work  and 
listened  with  delight.  As  the  shadows  of  evening  came 
on,  the  musician  seemed  to  be  more  and  more  inspired. 
His  fingers  lingered  lovingly  on  the  keys,  making  the 
piano  sing  with  almost  human  tones.  When  at  last,  he 
paused  and  arose  from  the  stool,  she  entreated  him  not 
to  stop.  "  This  is  just  the  hour  for  music,"  she  said  ; 
"  it  is  like  a  vesper  service." 

"  I  feel  that  way  myself,"  he  answered ;  "  I  always 
practice  at  this  time.  There  is  a  mystery  about  music 
in  the  dark  that  makes  it  more  satisfactory  as  the  lan 
guage  of  the  soul.  Sometimes  I  seem  to  be  talking  to 
the  great  masters,  or  rather  listening  to  their  divine  talk. 
I  feel  their  sorrows  as  if  they  were  my  own.  I  know 
just  how  Beethoven  felt  shut  up  in  a  prison-house  that 


218  .     JtEDBANK. 

no  sound  could  penetrate.  I  can  understand  Chopin's 
refined  wretchedness  and  Schuman's  incipient  madness." 
And  once  more  he  began  to  play.  After  a  while,  Mrs. 
Brooks  went  softly  out  of  the  room  to  attend  to  some 
household  duties.  Alice  moved  noiselessly  to  the  west 
window,  and  seated  herself  behind  the  curtain.  She 
was  fond  of  looking  at  the  evening  sky,  and  watching 
the  stars  come  out.  Jessie  lay  back  in  a  large  arm-chair 
near  the  fire,  closed  her  eyes,  and  listened  to  the  music 
with  a  feeling  of  happy  restfulness.  An  hour  passed, 
and  still  the  gentleman  continued  to  play,  forgetful  of 
all  around  him. 

Suddenly  he  struck  a  few  deep  chords,  and  left  the 
piano.  He  came  and  sat  down  near  Jessie. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  of,  Miss  Holcombe  ? "  he 
asked,  after  a  short  silence. 

"I  can  hardly  tell,"  she  answered;  "I  have  been 
dreaming,  rather  than  thinking.  I  have  had  visions 
of  far-away,  unattainable  things.  I've  dipt  into  the 
future  far  as  human  eye  can  see." 

"  Ah !  you  have  been  reading  Locksley  Hall"  he  said. 
"  I  wonder  if  you  like  that  poem  as  well  as  I  do." 

"  How  can  I  tell  ?  I  only  know  that  it  is  a  great 
favorite  of  mine.  There  are  some  very  fine  lines  in  it." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  from  beginning  to  end,  it  has  *  a 
splendid  ring.  When  you  read  it,  you  feel  as  if  the 
world  were  spinning  on  to  some  grand  consummation — 
the  poor  old  world,  with  its  burden  of  sin  and  sorrow." 

She  did  not  reply.  Soon  he  added, — "  Miss  Hol 
combe,  I  want  to  help  the  world  along — to  be  one  of 
those  who  take  part  in  its  progress.  It  is  not  enough 
to  live ;  I  want  to  leave  the  world  better  for  having 
lived  in  it.  Can  you  understand  the  feeling  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  rather  sadly ;  "  it  is   a  noble  ambi- 


REDTiANK.  0^9 

tion,  but  we  are  such  atoms.  What  can  we  do,  except 
in  a  small,  inappreciable  way  !  Our  individual  work 
hardly  seems  to  count.  Each  one  of  us  is  a  mere  drop 
in  the  great  ocean." 

"  Yes,  that  thought  is  rather  discouraging,"  he  re 
plied,  "  but,  Miss  Holcombe,  the  strong  purpose  in  a 
man's  heart  to  do  something  great  and  good,  lifts  him 
above  the  common  herd.  He  is  no  longer  a  mere  atom 
— a  mere  drop.  He  becomes  a  force.  I  believe  in  the 
power  of  the  human  will.  If  a  man  determines  to  do  a 
thing,  and  works  steadily  towards  that  end,  he  succeeds 
at  last.  The  struggle  may  be  severe,  but  the  success  is 
as  certain  as  anything  human  can  be." 

"  Yes,  I  believe  you  are  right,"  she  said,  "  our  wishes 
and  our  hopes,  if  they  are  earnest  enough,  become 
prayers." 

"  And  prayers  are  not  merely  words,  but  acts.  That 
I  really  pray  for,  I  work  for,"  he  added.  "  The  mass  of 
mankind  are  too  feeble  in  purpose,  and  too  indolent  in 
temperament  to  accomplish  much.  And  some  are  too 
selfish  to  care  for  anything  but  the  accumulation  of 
treasures  for  themselves,  and  so  the  world  drags  on ; 
human  progress  is  so  slow  that  angels  as  well  as  men 
must  sometimes  feel  discouraged.  It  is  a  beautiful 
world,  and  it  ought  to  be  the  very  brightest  planet  in 
the  skies." 

Here  the  supper-bell  rang  and  the  conversation  was 
interrupted. 

After  a  fortnight  spent  in  this  pleasant  family  circle, 
each  day  enlivened  by  walks  and  talks,  readings  and 
rides,  Jessie  Holcombe  returned  to  Redbank.  Both  the 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Winston  welcomed  her  back,  and  she 
fell  once  more  into  the  home  routine. 


220  PEDBAXK. 

"  Well,  Jessie,"  said  the  Colonel,  soon  after  her  ar 
rival,  "  when  is  the  wedding  to  take  place  ?  " 

"  What  wedding  ?  "  she  asked,  for  a  moment  at  a  loss 
to  know  what  he  meant. 

"Why  the  wedding  of  Miss  Alice  Brooks  and  her 
cousin,  of  course.  Whom  else  could  I  refer  to  ?  The 
whole  country,  and  the  city  too,  as  for  that,  are  in  a 
state  of  expectation,  waiting  for  the  cards.  •  Come,  tell 
us  when  it  is  to  be." 

"  That  is  more  than  I  know,"  she  replied ;  "  I  cer 
tainly  heard  no  talk  of  a  wedding,  and  I  saw  no  signs 
of  preparation." 

"  You  surprise  me,"  he  said ;  "  I  thought  that  you 
had  been  sent  for  purposely  to  assist  in  the  mysteries 
that  precede  the  ceremony." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  she  answered. 

"  Well,  now,  that  is  strange  !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel. 
"  I  wonder  what  they  are  waiting  for.  I'm  sure  they 
have  been  engaged  long  enough  to  know  each  other 
pretty  well  by  this  time.  They  will  soon  be  getting 
old,  if  they  don't  look  out." 

"  The  period  of  engagement  is  so  pleasant  that  they 
wish  to  prolong  it  as  much  as  possible,  perhaps,"  said 
Mrs.  Winston. 

"  Well,  I  don't  believe  in  long  engagements,"  the  Col 
onel  replied,  "  it  keeps  young  people  restless  and  unset 
tled.  Let  them  get  married  and  begin  life  in  earnest." 

Soon  he  turned  to  Jessie  again  and  said,  "  I  suppose 
they  are  very  much  in  love  with  each  other?  You 
must  have  felt  out  in  the  cold." 

The  girl  laughed  and  replied,  "  Oh  !  no,  I  did  not  feel 
at  all  out  in  the  cold.  I  suppose  they  are  attached  to 
each  other ;  they  seem  to  enjoy  each  other's  society  very 
much,  but  I  did  not  see  any  signs  of  excessive  devotion. 

14 


UEDBANR.  221 

I  imagine  that  they  reserve  that  kind  of  nonsense  for 
private  occasions  when  there  are  no  guests  in  the  house." 

"  And  how  do  you  like  Mr.  Waverley  Brooks  ?  "  asked 
the  Colonel. 

"  He  is  more  agreeable,  perhaps,  than  most  gentle 
men,  because  he  is  very  finely  educated,  and  has  trav 
elled,  and  seen  a  great  deal  of  the  world.  He  talks  well, 
he  reads  well,  he  plays  on  the  piano  well,  he  sings  well 
—indeed  I  suppose  he  does  everything  well,  for  he  has 
had  the  best  possible  advantages  in  the  world." 

"  Plays  on  the  piano  !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  I 
don't  see  what  a  man  wants  to  play  on  the  piano  for,  un 
less  he  expects  to  make  a  living  by  giving  music-lessons. 
When  I  was  young  that  kind  of  thing  wasn't  considered 
manly." 

"  You  see  the  world  is  changing,"  said  Jessie,  laugh 
ing.  "  It  seems  to  me  a  very  beautiful  accomplishment 
fora  man  to  possess.  No  man  can  be  tiresome  or  common 
place  who  understands  and  loves  music.  I  have  an  idea, 
even,  that  it  improves  his  temper  and  makes  him  easier 
to  live  with." 

"  I  don't  believe  that,"  said  the  Colonel ;  "  it  is  more 
apt  to  make  him  a  conceited  puppy." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IT  had  been  raining  for  several  days — a  real  wintery 
downpour  that  kept  one  helplessly  in  the  house.  Jessie 
was  again  at  The  Grove.  Mrs.  Brooks  had  sent  for  her, 
insisting  that  her  presence  cheered  Alice,  and  enlivened 
the  whole  family.  During  the  long-continued  storm 
there  had  been  much  quiet  gayety  in  the  old  plantation 
house.  Waverley  Brooks  was  thoroughly  accomplished. 
No  one  played  so  well  on  the  piano,  no  one  read  with 
more  taste  or  feeling,  no  one  could  give  a  scene  out 
of  Shakespeare  with  finer  effect.  He  was  unconscious 
and  obliging,  and  threw  a  good  deal  of  the  enthusiasm 
of  his  nature  into  whatever  he  did.  Altogether  the  days 
had  passed  swiftly  and  delightfully,  in  spite  of  the  patter 
of  rain  against  the  windows. 

At  last,  one  afternoon,  a  fresh  wind  sprang  up,  the 
clouds  broke  away,  and  the  sun  came  out.  Waverley, 
who  had  been  reading  to  the  ladies,  soon  laid  aside 
his  book,  and  suggested  that  they  should  all  go  out  for  a 
walk.  Jessie  eagerly  assented,  but  Alice  declared  that  it 
was  too  damp  and  cold ;  her  throat  was  already  sore,  and 
she  did  not  dare  to  leave  the  house.  "  But,  Jessie  dear, 
you  and  Waverley  must  go,"  she  said ;  "  I'm  sure  you  will 
enjoy  it." 

"  Yes,  the  air  is  delightful,  I  know,  and  we  will  have 
time  to  go  to  the  mill,"  he  pleaded.  "  Do  come.  You 
will  not  mind  a  little  mud  ?  " 


REDBANK.  223 

"  Oh,  no,"  Jessie  replied,  "  only  I  don't  want  to  leave 
Alice.  I  wish  you  could  go,  too,  dear." 

"Never  mind  about  me,"  cried  the  girl;  "  I'll  go  up 
and  take  a  nap,  and  be  fresh  when  you  return." 

"  She  must  not  go,"  said  Mrs.  Brooks,  very  decidedly  ; 
"  she  has  complained  of  her  throat  a  great  deal  for  the 
past  few  days,  and  it  is  time  for  her  to  be  careful.  But 
you  must  go,  Jessie.  You  are  so  fond  of  walking  that 
you  won't  mind  the  mud,  and  the  air  will  do  you  good, 
only  do  not  stay  out  too  late." 

Jessie  ran  upstairs  and  soon  returned  equipped  for  a 
walk. 

"  Are  you  well  shod  ?  "  asked  the  gentleman. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  and  she  showed  him  the  stout  little  boots. 

"  That  will  do,"  he  said,  and  off  they  started. 

"  I  do  wish  that  Alice  were  stronger,"  remarked  Jessie 
as  they  descended  the  steps. 

"  Yes,  we  all  feel  anxious  about  her,"  the  young  man 
answered.  "  It  makes  my  aunt  very  nervous  to  see 
Alice  ill.  But  I  think  she  is  getting  better ;  it  seems 
to  cheer  her  up  wonderfully  to  have  you  in  the  house, 
Miss  Holcombe." 

The  remark  surprised  the  girl,  but  she  made  no  com 
ment,  only  saying  :  "  How  delicious  this  fresh  air  is  ! 
I  am  sure  it  could  not  have  done  her  any  harm  to  come 
out.  She  stays  in  the  house  too  much.  It  is  not  cold  in 
the  least,  but  just  keen  enough  to  make  one  feel  thor 
oughly  alive." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  replied  the  gentleman.  "  I  love 
a  cold  day — it  tones  one  up  and  makes  one  feel  equal  to 
a  tough  job.  I'm  afraid  our  climate  has  a  tendency  to 
make  one  feel  just  a  little  bit  indolent." 

They  went  on  rapidly  over  the  open  road.  The  white 
sand  had  alreadv  dried,  the  walking  was  good,  and 


•2-24  HEDBANK. 

the  clear  sunshine  was  very  pleasant.  They  moved 
along  side  by  side,  now  talking,  now  falling  into  silence, 
as  good  comrades  usually  do.  Soon  they  reached  the 
pine-wood,  and  were  obliged  to  choose  their  steps  with 
more  care.  Waverley  often  found  it  necessary  to  give 
a  little  assistance,  but  this  only  furnished  an  occasion 
to  laugh  and  say  pleasant  things  to  each  other. 

"  I  am  very  fond  of  this  pine-grove,"  he  remarked, 
looking  up  at  the  stately  trees. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  the  girl,  "  I  wish  it  were  as  near  Red- 
bank  as  it  is  to  The  Grove — I'm  sure  I  would  live  in  it 
— it  has  such  a  strange  fascination  for  me.  But  I  think 
it  suits  a  melancholy  mood." 

"  Yes,  there's  something  solemn  about  it,"  he  replied  ; 
"  the  trunks  are  so  high  and  massive,  and  the  foliage 
so  dark  and  heavy  that  one  seems  to  be  in  a  vast  cathe 
dral.  I  can  almost  hear  the  tones  of  the  organ." 

"  How  I  wish  that  I  could  see  a  cathedral ! "  ex 
claimed  Jessie. 

"  Perhaps  you  may,  some  day." 

"  I'm  afraid  not.  If  I  were  a  man,  there  would  be 
some  hope  for  me ;  but  being  only  a  woman — "  she  left 
the  sentence  unfinished  and  was  silent  for  a  moment, 
but  then  continued  in  her  bright,  impulsive  way,  "  It 
must  be  so  nice  to  be  a  man,  and  form  plans,  and  carry 
them  out." 

"  Has  not  a  woman  the  same  right  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  she  only  stands  and  waits,  without  any  plan  in 
life — only  a  vague  yearning  to  be  useful  to  somebody, 
sometime,  and  somehow."  There  was  a  plaintive  little 
undertone  to  her  voice.  She  was  thinking  of  her  own 
life ;  her  eyes  were  looking  straight  ahead  to  a  bright 
spot  where  the  sun-light  fell  through  the  pine  trunks. 
Her  large  black  hat,  heavy  with  plumes,  was  turned  up 


RED  HANK.  2-25 

at  the  side — the  side  on  which  the  gentleman  was  walk 
ing.  It  left  her  white  cheek  perfectly  revealed,  and 
the  little  ear  gleaming  among  the  stray  curls  that  had 
escaped  from  the  comb  and  pins.  tVaverly  Brooks  was 
rather  cold  in  his  temperament,  but  somehow  he  looked 
long  and  often  at  this  girl  who  was  walking  beside  him. 
Presently  he  said,  "  I  think  women  have  their  triumphs  as 
well  as  men.  There  are  always  compensations  in  nature." 

"Yes,  the  triumphs  of  fortitude,  patience,  and  resig 
nation,"  she  answered  sadly — as  the  position  of  woman's 
lot  in  life  arose  before  her  mind. 

"Are  they  to  be  despised  ?  "  he  asked. 

"No;  after  all,  the  spiritual  triumphs  are  the  highest 
and  best,  but  — 

"  But  what  ?  "  he  asked,  seeing  her  hesitate. 

"  How  do  I  know  that  you  care  for  the  end  of  the 
sentence,"  she  replied  with  a  faint  smile. 

"Try  me  and  see.  An  unfinished  sentence  always 
provokes  curiosity." 

"  If  it  is  only  curiosity  you  feel,  I  will  leave  it 
unfinished." 

"You  do  me  injustice,"  he  said.  "  I  assure  you  that 
I  feel  something  more  than  curiosity.  I  think  I  know 
what  you  were  going  to  say." 

"  Tell  me  then." 

"Something  like  this:  a  woman  cannot  make  a 
career  for  herself ;  she  is  shut  in  by  conventional  hedges; 
she  cannot  more  than  half  use  the  force  within  her;  the 
conditions  of  society  allow  her  only  to  develop  the  pas 
sive  virtues.  Am  I  right  ?  " 

She  was  surprised  that  he  had  understood  her  so  well. 

"  I  think  you  are  in  a  measure  right,"  he  added,  "  but 
things  are  changing.  It  seems  to  me,  that  a  woman  has 
the  same  right  to  make  the  most  of  herself  that  a  man 


oofl  REDBAXK. 

has.  If  slie  possesses  talent,  she  ought  to  use  it.  If 
she  is,  by  nature,  strong  and  independent,  society  should 
allow  her  to  follow  her  impulses  and  choose  a  profession, 
and  earn  an  honest. living." 

"You  are  more  liberal  than  most  men,"  she  said, 
"  they  are  generally  shocked  by  the  independence  of  a 
woman.  They  like  her  to  be  timid,  and  clinging,  and 
a  little  worshipful  of  their  '  larger  bones  and  stronger 
sinews.' " 

He  smiled  at  her  slightly  contemptuous  tone — 

"  Yes,  I  confess  we  are  rather  selfish.  It  is  a  great 
comfort  to  uy  to  know  that  the  sweetest  and  best  women 
generally  find  their  career  in  keeping  the  house  of  some 
man.  For  my  part,  I'm  glad  it  is  so."  They  both 
laughed. 

"  Ah  !  I  see  you  are  just  like  all  the  rest  of  them," 
she  said,  "  and  I  was  beginning  to  think  you  a  little 
better." 

"  I  am  miserable  to  have  fallen  so  soon  in  your  good 
opinion,"  he  answered  ;  ;t  but  don't  you  remember  Ten 
nyson's  Princess?  With  all  her  haughty  strength  and 
determination,  she  yielded  when  the  Prince  came." 

"  A  man  wrote  that !  "  she  exclaimed,  a  little  im 
patiently.  "  Now,  if  I  had  written  it,  I  would  have  made 
that  Castle  a  great  social  centre,  from  which  an  influ 
ence  would  have  gone  out  to  convert  the  world.  It 
spoils  the  poem  to  have  the  great  purpose  of  its  heroine 
fail  so  soon.  Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  That  depends  upon  the  way  you  look  at  it,"  he  said, 
laughing  ;  "  now  I  like  that  end  exceedingly." 

"  Of  course  you  do.  It  is  always  nice  for  a  man  to 
find  a  good  housekeeper.  That's  the  end  of  every 
story  that's  written.  There,  don't  reply  to  that,"  she 
added ;  "  I  will  not  hear  any  defence.  Just  look  at 


REDBANK.  227 

that  glimpse  of  the  pond  through  the  trees  ;  we  have 
almost  reached  the  mill." 

"  It  is  rather  a  picturesque  spot,"  he  said  ;  "  I  used  to 
be  very  fond  of  it,  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  many  a  fish 
I've  pulled  out  of  the  water.  I  don't  care  much  for 
the  sport  now.  How  we  do  out-grow  our  tastes  and 
affections  !  I  used  to  feel  that  Paradise  itself  would 
be  incomplete  without  a  gun  and  dog  and  plenty  of 
partridges  to  shoot,  and  now  I'm  rather  indifferent  to 
that,  too." 

"  You  have  reached  a  higher  plane  of  civilization," 
said  Jessie  ;  "  such  signs  of  growth  are  very  gratifying. 
I  remember  that  I  felt  quite  glad  when  I  ceased  to  love 
my  doll.  It  seemed  as  if  I  were  at  last  really  a  young 
lady."  They  both  laughed.  Soon  they  came  out  of 
the  woods  in  full  view  of  the  mill.  The  pond  was  very 
high,  the  dam  was  a  roaring  cataract,  the^tream  a  rush 
ing  river.  They  walked  around  and  obtained  more  than 
one  point  from  which  they  could  take  in  the  whole 
scene. 

"  It  would  make  a  beautiful  picture,"  he  said,  "  I 
would  like  to  paint  it." 

"  Do  you  paint  ?  "  she  asked,  surprised  that  he  pos 
sessed  an  accomplishment  almost  unknown  at  that  time 
among  the  gentlemen  of  the  South. 

"  Yes,  a  little  ;  I've  made  some  very  bad  pictures  in 
my  life  ;  but  I  like  it  very  much.  There  is  great  enjoy 
ment  in  looking  at  Nature  with  the  artist's  eye — in  trying 
to  catch  fine  effects,  and  feeling  for  tone  and  color." 

She  told  him  the  tragic  story  connected  with  the  mill. 
He  had  never  heard  it  before,  and  declared  that  it  lent 
an  additional  charm — an  air  of  melancholy  sentiment — 
to  the  place. 

"  I  suppose  you  used  to  spend  much  of  your  time  at 


228  EEDBANK. 

The  Grove,  when  you  were  a  boy  ?  "  she  asked,  as  he 
pointed  out  the  various  spots  with  which  he  was  familiar. 

"  Not  a  great  deal — only  a  part  of  every  vacation," 
he  answered ;  "  the  truth  is,  my  father  kept  me  awfully 
busy  from  the  time  I  was  out  of  long  clothes.  He 
wanted  to  make  an  extraordinary  man  out  of  me,  and 
made  me  study  everything  under  the  sun.  Sometimes 
I  feel  dreadfully  sorry  to  see  him  so  disappointed." 

"  But  is  he  disappointed  ?  "  asked  the  young  girl ; 
"  I  don't  see  why  he  should  be." 

He  laughed  and  said,  "  A  thousand  thanks  for  the 
compliment.  It  makes  me  hope  that  I  am  not  a  total 
failure."  She  looked  at  him  with  surprise.  "  I  did 
not  mean  to  shock  you,"  he  continued,  "  but  the  truth 
is,  my  father  is  disappointed  in  his  son.  In  educating 
children,  I  suppose  all  parents  have  their  ideals,  and 
they  expect  the  boys  and  .girls  to  reach  them,  but  human 
nature  is  too  imperfect  for  that.  It  is  as  difficult  for  a 
father  to  make  his  son  perfect  as  it  is  for  him  to  make 
himself  perfect." 

"  I  understand  what  you  mean,"  she  said,  simply,  "  but 
I  am  sure  your  father  always  speaks  of  you  with  the 
greatest  pride.  You  are  his  idol.  I  know  you  will 
never  disappoint  him  in  one  single  thing." 

"  It  delights  me  to  have  you  express  so  much  confi 
dence  in  me,  Miss  Holcombe,"  he  replied,  "  but  I  cannot 
allow  you  to  be  deceived.  I  am  obliged  to  confess  that 
I  am  on  the  eve  of  dealing  him  a  very  heavy  blow." 

"  Oh  !  don't,  please,"  she  pleaded ;  "  your  father  is 
one  of  the  best  and  wisest  men  in  the  world ;  you  must 
not  do  anything  in  opposition  to  his  wishes." 

"  I  cannot  help  it.  If  I  am  true  to  my  own  self,  I 
must  sometimes  disagree  with  him.  No  two  men,  or 
women  either,  are  made  exactly  alike." 


REDBANK.  229 

She  thought  awhile  and  then  said  : 

"  I  believe  you  are  right ;  sometimes  in  pleasing  others, 
even  those  who  love  us  best,  and  would  save  us  from 
all  harm,  we  go  wrong  ourselves.  Yes,  it  is  really  so 
Each  one  must  decide  the  great  questions  of  life  for 
himself." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  understand  me,  Miss  Holcombe  ; 
I  am  not  sure  that  my  father  will.  I  have  hurt  him 
several  times  of  late  without  intending  it.  I  will  tell 
you  about  it,  if  you  care  to  listen." 

"  Of  course  I  do.     How  could  you  doubt  it?  " 

He  was  glad  that  she  was  so  simple  and  direct  and 
unconscious. 

"  Well,  in  the  first  place,  he  wants  me  to  begin  the 
.practice  of  law.  For  years  I  have  been  fitting  myself 
for  it.  I  went  through  the  law  course  at  Harvard,  and 
also  studied  a  year  at  Heidelberg.  I  like  the  history  of 
law  very  much.  I  enjoy  working  up  a  fine  case ;  the 
whole  course  of  study  has  been  delightful ;  but  I  know 
there  are  a  great  many  things  about  the  practice  of  law 
that  would  be  odious  to  me,  and  I  have  made  up  my  mind 
upon  the  subject.  I  shall  never  be  a  lawyer." 

"  I  know  your  father  must  feel  that  very  keenly," 
said  Jessie  ;  "  he  desired  you  to  be  associated  with  him ; 
you  could  have  helped  him  in  so  many  ways.  Are  you 
sure  you  are  right — perfectly  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  there  is  a  profession  that  I  prefer,  and  in  which 
I  have  already  had  some  training.  It  is  journalism.  It 
deals  with  all  the  broad  public  questions  of  the  day — 
those  questions  that  affect  not  only  men  but  nations. 
I  could  never  be  content  to  fight  the  petty  battles  of 
rogues  arid  swindlers.  No,  1  have  no  taste  whatever  for 
the  practice  of  law.  I  cannot  make  it  my  life-work  even 
to  please  my  father.  Then,  again,  I  wish  to  go  to  New 


230  HEDBANK. 

York  to  live.  My  education  lias  been  cosmopolitan,  and 
I  cannot  be  happy  in  our  provincial  little  town.  I  would 
feel  all  the  time  as  if  I  were  panting  for  breath.  I  love 
the  South,  but  I  am  tired  of  hearing  sectional  questions 
discussed.  We  have  one  country  now,  and  it  is  time  to 
get  rid  of  unreasonable  prejudices.  This  is  a  great  grief 
to  my  father,  and  I  am  not  surprised,  but  I  cannot  help 
it." 

"  And  you  are  very  certain  that  you  are  right  ?  "  asked 
the  girl,  wondering  at  his  boldness  and  quiet  determina 
tion. 

"Yes,  perfectly  certain,  Miss  Holcombe;  I  cannot 
follow  in  my  father's  footsteps^ — I  must  make  a  path  of 
my  own.  I  don't  believe  it  will  be  down-hill,  either," 
he  added,  smiling. 

.He  did  not  continue  the  conversation,  and  she  had  too- 
much  delicacy  to  solicit  his  confidence  any  farther; 
but  she  could  not  help  wondering  what  Alice  thought 
of  all  these  plans  and  purposes.  During  this  conversa 
tion,  they  had  been  standing  on  the  old  bridge  over  the 
mill-stream. 

It  was  fascinating  to  watch  the  sweep  of  the  water 
over  all  obstruction,  and  its  steadfast  flow  in  one  direc 
tion.  Jessie  thought  of  it  and,  in  a  vague  way,  saw  the 
resemblance  between  its  strong  current  and  the  strong 
will  of  the  young  man  beside  her.  She  felt  that  he 
would  as  surely  reach  his  goal.  Perhaps  he  was  think 
ing  the  same  thing.  She  looked  at  him  with  some 
curiosity.  He  was  standing  very  still,  lost  in  thought. 
Suddenly  he  turned  his  head  and  their  eyes  met. 

In  a  moment  she  felt  strangely  uncomfortable  and 
moved  away  from  him. 

"It  is  growing  late  ;  we  must  start  home,"  she  said, 
rather  faintly.  They  walked  very  rapidly  through  the 


REDBANK.  231 

pine  woods,  never  speaking  a  single  word.  She  chose 
her  way  carefully  over  the  mud  without  his  assistance. 
When  they  came  out  of  the  woods,  the  sun  was  setting, 
and  they  paused  to  see  the  western  sky,  which  was  bril 
liant  beyond  description.  In  silence  they  watched  the 
colors  slowly  fade  away.  Presently,  there  was  a  rift  in 
a  large  cloud,  and  the  new  moon  was  revealed. 

"  Isn't  it  beautiful !  "  she  said,  her  eyes  still  fixed 
upon  it. 

"  Yes ;  I  love  to  see  the  new  moon — it  seems  like  the 
promise  of  something  better,"  he  answered. 

"  I  feel  so  too,  and  ever  since  I  was  a  little  child  I 
have  always  made  a  wish  when  I  see  it  for  the  first  time. 
I'm  going  to  make  one  now,"  she  said. 

"  I  am,  too,"  he  whispered,  as  if  talking  to  himself ; 
"  there  are  so  many  things  that  I  want." 

"  Are  there  ?  "  she  asked ;  "  why,  to  me  you  seem  to 
have  everything  that  a  mortal  could  possibly  desire." 

"  Do  I  ?  Then  I'm  an  awfully  deceptive  fellow — I'm 
wanting  something  all  the  while.  Just  at  this  moment, 
I'm  especially  hungry  for  something  that  hangs  up  high 
— out  of  my  reach,  I'm  afraid.  But  I  intend  to  get  it, 
— with  the  help  of  the  moon,"  he  added,  breaking  into 
a  light  laugh. 

When  they  entered  the  house,  she  went  immediately 
upstairs  to  remove  her  hat  and  jacket.  Everything 
was  very  quiet ;  she  wondered  where  Mrs.  Brooks  and 
Alice  were — "  In  the  parlor,  perhaps,"  she  said  to  herself, 
as  she  arranged  her  hair  in  the  dim  light,  and  fastened 
a  bow  of  scarlet  ribbon  at  her  throat.  She  heard  the 
tones  of  the  piano,  and  knew  that  Waverley  Brooks  was 
playing.  When  she  descended  to  the  parlor,  she  found 
the  lamps  lighted  and  the  fire  burning  brightly,  but  the 
hostess  and  her  daughter  were  not  there.  Jessie  was 


23-2  BEDBANK. 

moving  away  to  go  in  search  of  them  when  the  gentle 
man  at  the  piano  called  to  her. 

"  Come  here,  Miss  Holcombe,  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of 
you.  Do  you  feel  like  making  yourself  useful  ?  " 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you?  "  she  asked. 

"  If  it  is  not  too  much  trouble,  will  you  find  Chopin's 
Nocturnes  for  me  ?  They  are  over  there  in  that  pile  of 
music.  I  feel  just  in  the  mood  for  playing  them,  and 
I  am  afraid  the  spell  will  be  broken  if  I  get  up  and 
begin  the  search." 

"  I  know  where  they  are,"  she  said  ;  and  soon  she  had 
found  them  and  placed  them  on  the  music-desk  before 
him. 

"Please,  don't  go  away,"  he  pleaded;  "stand  behind 
me,  and  see  if  I  play  them  right." 

"  But  you  know  them  far  better  than  I  do." 

"  I  insist  that  I  don't,"  he  said,  running  his  fingers 
lightly  over  the  keys. 

She  was  standing  beside  him ;  she  was  a  little  tired 
from  her  long  walk ;  her  small  white  hand  was  resting  on 
the  instrument.  He  played  on  and  on,  as  if  the  very 
spirit  of  the  dead  master  had  possession  of  him.  She 
listened  like  one  in  a  dream  ;  she  was  floating  away  from 
time  and  space.  Finally  the  last  chord  was  struck.  As 
the  tones  died  away,  he  lifted  one  of  his  hands,  and  laid 
it  gently  on  hers.  She  turned,  and  again  they  looked 
into  each  other's  eyes.  What  did  they  see  there  ?  If  she 
had  been  less  simple  and  true-hearted,  she  could  have 
read  his  whole  soul.  For  him,  there  was  only  an  ex 
pression  of  surprise,  of  anger,  melting  away  at  last  into 
sorrow  and  pity.  Slowly  she  withdrew  her  hand,  and 
moved  away  from  the  piano.  Soon  she  left  the  room. 
He  heard  her  ascend  the  staircase,  and  a  door  was 


REDBANK.  233 

softly  closed.     Then  he  got  up  from  the  piano,  and  went 
out  of  the  house. 

Jessie  Holcombe  took  her  seat  by  the  window,  and 
looked  out  upon  the  clear  wintry  sky.  She  was  trying 
to  take  in  the  meaning  of  this  strange  thing  that  had 
happened  to  her.  She  longed  for  the  shelter  of  her  own 
room  at  Redbank,  that  she  might  think  it  all  over.  She 
was  weary  from  her  long  walk,  and  her  brain  felt  hot 
and  confused.  She  hardly  knew  where  she  was ;  she 
had  gone  astray,  and  was  lost  in  some  wilderness  of 
trouble  and  despair.  Why,  oh !  why  should  one  look 
thus  disturb  this  sweetly  simple  maiden,  this  perfectly 
poised  nature  ?  Was  there  truly  a  deep  and  passionate 
meaning  in  his  eyes  ?  She  could  not  tell.  Perhaps  she 
had  been  dreaming.  Perhaps  the  music  had  affected 
both  the  outward  and  the  inward  vision.  Perhaps  the 
glare  of  the  lamp  had  given  that  strange  light  to  his 
eyes.  Perhaps  the  touch  of  his  hand  had  been  but  an 
accident,  after  all.  She  must  forget  it,  she  must  calm 
herself ;  that,  at  least,  she  knew  was  imperative.  For  a 
long  time  she  sat  there  in  the  darkness.  Suddenly 
she  heard  the  supper-bell  ring.  It  called  her  back 
to  the  world  of  sense  and  duty.  She  knew  that  she 
must  get  up,  and  go  downstairs,  and  meet  Mrs.  Brooks 
and  Alice,  and  the  gentleman  also.  She  must  sit 
through  a  long  evening,  and  laugh  and  talk  as  usual. 
How  could  she  do  it !  And  yet  not  for  the  world 
would  she  show  that  her  heart  was  on  fire — that  her 
pulse  was  beating  wildly.  She  was  a  strong  woman  ; 
she  had  been  schooled  to  self-control  in  the  past;  she 
stood  up  erect  and  firm  in  the  darkness,  and  nerved  her 
self  for  the  task.  She  moved  slowly  through  the  long 
hall  and  down  the  stairway.  By  the  time  she  reached  the 
dining-room,  she  Avas  herself  again  ;  the  spell  had  been 


234  HEDBANK. 

cast  off,  and  the  blood  was  once  more  flowing  calmly  in  her 
veins.  Mrs.  Brooks  and  Alice  were  standing  in  front 
of  the  fire,  waiting  for  her.  She  greeted  them  in  her 
simple,  affectionate,  playful  way ;  there  was  no  suspi 
cion  on  the  part  of  either  that  anything  was  wrong. 

Waverley  Brooks  lingered  outside.  He  was  at  the 
stable,  inspecting  his  horse,  for  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  start  to  the  city  in  the  morning  as  soon  as  it  was 
light.  He  wished  to  have  an  explanation  with  his 
father.  He  came  in  after  the  ladies  were  seated  at  the 
table,  and  played  his  part  in  the  conversation  with  his 
accustomed  ease.  Alice  asked  about  the  walk. 

"  Yes,  the  walk  was  very  pleasant,"  he  said ;  "  the  ground 
was  a  little  muddy,  and  the  air  a  little  chilly  and  damp, 
but  on  the  whole  Miss  Holcombe  and  I  enjoyed  it,"  and 
without  lifting  his  eyes,  he  appealed  to  the  young  lady 
to  confirm  his  statement. 

"  Yes,  we  enjoyed  it,  but  not  so  much  as  we  would 
have  done,  if  you  had  been  with  us,  Alice,"  Jessie 
replied.  "  The  mill-pond  is  very  full,  and  the  dam,  a 
perfect  Niagara.  If  possible,  you  must  go  and  see  it 
to-morrow."  Alice  thought  she  might  be  able  to  go  if 
the  day  was  fine. 

"  And  if  the  day  is  fine,  I  really  must  go  home,"  said 
Jessie.  "  I  had  a  little  note  from  Eleanor  this  morning, 
and  I'm  afraid  she  thinks  that  I  have  deserted  her." 

This  was  scarcely  true,  for,  in  the  note,  Mrs.  Winston 
expressed  her  delight  that  her  sister  was  having  a  pleasant 
time,  and  begged  her  to  stay  just  as  long  as  possible. 

"  There  is  nothing  to  call  you  back  to  Redbank,  dear,  so 
do  not  shorten  your  visit  on  my  account."  These  were 
the  words  ;  but  the  conscience  of  the  young  girl  did  not 
seem  to  trouble  her  in  the  least ;  so  she,  perhaps,  had 
read  something  more  between  the  lines. 


KEDBANK.  235 

"  No,  you  must  not  go,  Jessie,"  said  Mrs.  Brooks,  "  we 
cannot  spare  you." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  and  I  thank  you  more  than  I  can 
express,  but  I  really  must  go.  There  are  some  things 
that  I  cannot  leave  undone  any  longer.  You  know 
a  visit  may  be  protracted  until  one  becomes  demoralized. 
Too  much  enjoyment  is  not  good  for  human  nature. 
Besides,  Eleanor  misses  me." 

"I  can  well  believe  that,"  said  Alice ;  "but  I  shall  be 
dreadfully  lonely  without  you,  dear." 

"  Then  you  must  come  and  make  me  a  visit.  It  is 
scarcely  fair  to  have  all  the  hospitality  on  your  side." 

But  Alice  shook  her  head.  It  was  impossible  for  her 
to  make  more  than  a  short  call  at  Redbank.  Harry 
Holcombe  was  there,  and  she  did  not  wish  to  meet  him. 
Their  friendly  relations  had  been  disturbed,  and  he  had 
been  very  angry  with  her.  Soon  Waverley  remarked 
carelessly : 

"  What  a  pity  our  pleasant  party  must  be  broken  up ! 
I,  too,  shall  have  to  leave  you  for  a  while.  I  must  go 
up  to  the  city,  Aunt  Kate,  and  see  about  the  sale  of 
that  cotton.  You  know  we  sent  off  two  or  three  loads 
a  few  days  ago.  The  price  is  up  now,  and  we  must 
take  advantage  of  it.  Always  sell  on  a  rising  market; 
isn't  that  the  motto  of  the  planter?  However,  I  shall 
not  be  gone  long.  There  is  always  the  pleasant  thought 
of  coming  back  again." 

That  evening  Alice  and  Jessie  played  chess.  Wa 
verley  Brooks  seated  himself  at  the  piano,  and,  opening 
a  volume  of  Beethoven's  Sonatas,  began  a  soft  andante 
movement,  which  gradually  rose  to  louder  and  more 
impassioned  strains,  as  the  musician  became  wholly 
possessed  by  the  noble  theme  of  the  great  master. 

"  Why,  Waverley,  how  well  you  play  to-night  ?  "  ex- 


236  RtiDBANK. 

claimed  his  cousin  more  than  once.  "  What  is  the 
matter  with  you  ?  One  would  think  you  were  inspired." 

"So  I  am;  Beethoven  always  inspires  me."  And  he 
continued  hour  after  hour  without  pause.  He  was  play 
ing  for  relief  from  consuming  thought.  Jessie  Holcombe 
vaguely  understood  that  he  was  giving  expression  to 
his  own  feelings  in  those  deep,  wild,  heart-breaking 
chords.  Her  own  soul  responded  in  great  waves  of 
strange  and  conflicting  emotion.  She  was  stirred  to  the 
very  depths  of  her  being.  If  his  heart  had  indeed 
wandered  from  its  allegiance  to  his  cousin,  what  was 
left  to  them,  or  to  herself  but  despair? 

"  I  shall  checkYnate  you  now  very  soon,  if  you  are 
not  careful,"  exclaimed  Alice ;  "  you  are  not  playing 
well  to-night.  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Jessie  ?  " 

"  My  walk  has  made  me  stupid  and  sleepy,"  the 
young  girl  said  by  way  of  apology.  She  was  very 
tired ;  she  lifted  her  face  from  the  chess-board,  whose 
red  and  black  squares  seemed  to  confuse  her.  Uncon 
sciously  she  looked  towards  the  piano.  Waverley's 
eyes  were  fixed  upon  her.  She  felt  the  burning  color 
come  to  her  cheeks.  Yes,  she  could  not  help  it — she 
knew  that  he  possessed  a  strange  power  over  her.  Again 
she  was  falling  under  the  spell  of  that  mysterious  ex 
pression  in  his  eyes, — she  was  slipping  down  a  fear 
ful  precipice,  enveloped  in  clouds  and  darkness,  and 
there  was  no  hand  to  save  ! 

The  next  morning  when  she  came  to  the  breakfast- 
table,  the  gentleman  was  not  there. 

"  Waverley  started  off  to  the  city  this  morning  before 
sunrise, — so  Evans  tells  me,"  said  Mrs.  Brooks.  "  I'm 
sorry  he  did  not  get  something  to  eat  before  he  left. 
It's  a  long  ride,  and  I'm  afraid  he  Avill  be  quite  faint 

before  lie  gets  there.     But  young  men  never  know  how 

lo 


REDBANK.  237 

to  take  care  of  themselves.  They  do  all  manner  of 
foolish  things  until  they  get  married," — and  she  looked 
at  her  daughter  and  gmiled. 

"  Sometimes  that's  the  most  foolish  thing  of  all,"  said 
Alice,  in  her  quiet  way. 

"  Not  often ;  a  wife  usually  sobers  a  man  down. 
Women  generally  have  a  great  deal  of  common  sense." 

Jessie  was  looking  out  of  the  window  at  the  pleasant 
sunshine.  It  was  a  fine  day — she  must  keep  her  word 
— she  must  not  linger  longer  at  The  Grove.  That  after 
noon  she  returned  to  Redbank. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

AFTER  taking  his  breakfast  at  the  hotel,  Waverle}7" 
Brooks  went  to  his  father's  house ;  the  old  butler  met 
him  at  the  door. 

"  Harris,  is  my  father  at  home  ?  "  the  young  man 
asked. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  the  servant  replied. 

"  Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  In  the  library,  sir." 

"  Will  you  step  to  the  door,  Harris,  and  inquire  if  I 
can  see  him  on  business  for  a  few  moments.  Tell  him 
I  will  not  detain  him  long." 

It  had  always  been  one  of  the  regulations  of  the 
household  that  the  Judge  should  not  be  interrupted 
during  the  morning  hours,  which  he  spent,  when  at 
home,  shut  up  in  his  library  at  work.  Before  moving 
off  to  obey  the  command  of  his  young  master,  the  old 
servant  surveyed  him  quietly,  and  said,  "  You  looks 
tired,  Marse  Waveiiey.  Have  you  had  any  breakfast, 
sir  ?  Can't  I  get  something  for  you  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you,  Harris.  I  have  come  from  The 
Grove  this  morning,  and  it  is  a  long  ride  to  take  before 
breakfast.  I  was  rather  tired  when  I  got  to  the  city, 
so  I  went  to  the  hotel  and  got  something  to  eat,  and 
rested  a  while.  I  don't  care  for  anything  more." 

"  I  hope  everybody's  well  at  The  Grove,"  said  the 
old  man,  whose  curiosity  was  excited. 


REDBANK.  239 

"  Yes,  all  are  well.  Now,  go  immediately,  and  ask 
my  father  if  he  can  see  me." 

In  spite  of  the  calm  exterior  of  the  gentleman,  Harris 
detected  the  signs  of  suppressed  emotion,  and  was  very 
sure  that  something  serious  had  happened.  He  went 
softly  to  the  library,  and  soon  returned  with  the  an 
nouncement  that  the  Judge  could  see  his  son.  In  a 
few  moments,  Waverley  was  in  his  father's  presence. 

The  Judge  had  evidently  been  at  work ;  papers, 
letters,  all  kinds  of  written  documents,  together  with 
heavy  law  books,  were  scattered  over  a  large  desk  which 
stood  in  the  centre  of  the  room.  He  arose  from  an  easy- 
chair,  in  which  he  had  been  seated,  and  came  forward 
to  meet  the  young  man. 

"  Well,  Waverley,  I'm  glad  to  see  you,"  he  said, 
shaking  hands  with  him.  "  This  is  rather  an  unusual 
hour  for  you  to  make  your  appearance.  I  hope  you 
bring  good  news  from  The  Grove." 

"  Yes,  my  aunt  and  cousin  are  well.  I  trust  I  am 
not  intruding,  or  taking  you  from  your  work,"  Waverley 
replied.  "  I  want  very  much  to  have  a  talk  with  you, 
father.  I  have  delayed  it  as  long  as  possible.  I  cannot 
really  be  myself  until  it  is  over.  The  truth  is,  I've 
been  wretchedly  uncomfortable  for  the  last  two  or  three 
months." 

"  Well  ?  "  said  the  Judge,  looking  at  him  very  stead 
fastly.  His  manner  was  a  little  cold  with  his  son ;  it 
had  always  been.  Few  signs  of  affection  had  ever 
passed  between  them,  and  yet  they  loved  and  respected 
each  other  very  deeply.  "  Father,"  said  the  young 
man,  "  I  find  it  impossible  to  fulfil  your  wishes  in 
regard  to  Alice." 

The  Judge  contracted  his  brows  slightly,  but  only 
answered,  u  Well,  go  on  ;  make  a  clean  breast  of  it." 


240  EEDBANE. 

"  That  is  what  I  intend  to  do,"  was  the  quick  reply. 
"  I'm  awfully  sorry  to  disappoint  you  in  this  matter, 
for  I  know  how  near  it  lies  to  your  heart ;  but  I  cannot 
hold  myself  to  blame.  Alice  has  been  perfectly  cold 
and  indifferent  to  me  ever  since  my  return,  and  has 
told  me  frankly,  whenever  I  have  mentioned  the  subject, 
that  it  is  impossible  for  her  to  care  for  me  except  as  a 
cousin.  I  have  been  ready  to  keep  my  pledge,  but  I  can 
not  marry  an  unwilling  bride,  even  to  please  my  father." 

"  I  have  never  desired  you  to  marry  an  unwilling 
bride,"  said  the  Judge,  a  little  severely ;  "  I  thought 
that  you  had  always  loved  Alice,  and  that  she  had 
always  loved  you.  I  am  sure,  before  you  went  to 
Europe,  there  was  sentiment  enough  on  both  sides — too 
much  I  used  to  think  sometimes." 

"  So  there  was,  but  it  was  only  youthful  gush ;  it 
is  over  long  ago,  on  both  sides,"  Waverley  answered. 
"  When  I  came  back  I  found  her  so  changed  in  man 
ner  that  my  own  feelings  were  chilled.  I  see  now  that 
we  are  not  suited  to  each  other,  and  it  is  better  to  end 
the  whole  matter,  and  break  at  once." 

*'  Do  you  think  she  has  formed  any  other  attach 
ment  ?  "  asked  the  Judge. 

"  I'm  afraid  she  has,"  replied  the  young  man,  "  though 
she  is  too  reserved  to  allow  it  to  be  discovered,  and  I 
have  no  right  to  question  her." 

"  Have  you  ever  met  that  young  Holcombe  ?  " 

"  Yes,  several  times,  and  I  have  sometimes  suspected 
that  Alice  likes  him." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  him  ?  "  the  Judge  inquired. 

"  Why,  he  seems  to  be  a  fine  fellow.  He  is  certainly 
very  handsome,  and  might  prove  dangerous  as  a  rival ; 
but  I  have  heard  that  he  is  dissipated ;  I  don't  know 
how  true  it  is." 


REDBANK.  24l 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Judge,  shaking  his  head  slowly  and 
solemnly,  "  I  should  be  very  sorry  for  Alice  to  care 
for  him.  I'm  afraid,  from  all  I  hear,  that  he  is  utterly 
unworthy  of  her.  Last  winter,  during  that  long  illness 
of  her  mother,  he  used  to  go  there  a  good  deal — so 
Evans  told  me,  and  I  daresay  he  made  love  to  her. 
The  change  in  her  dates  from  that  time.  She  has  never 
been  the  same  girl  since." 

"  Well,  I  don't  feel  that  I  can  continue  to  persecute 
her  any  longer,"  said  Waverley.  "  The  truth  is,  my  own 
feelings  have  undergone  a  change." 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  the  Judge,  "  do  you  mean  to 
say  that  you  have  been  falling  in  love,  too  ?  "  and  he 
laughed  as  he  added — "  with  Nettie  Hunter,  I  suppose  ?  " 

The  young  man  colored,  and  quietly  replied,  "  You 
are  mistaken.  I  have  met  a  lady  whom  I  would  like  to 
marry,  but  she  does  not  live  in  this  city." 

"  I  hope  to  goodness  she  is  not  a  French  woman," 
said  the  Judge. 

Waverley  smiled.  "Don't  be  alarmed,  father;  my 
affections  have  never  been  very  erratic.  I  think  you 
may  trust  me  to  give  you  a  native  American  girl  for  a 
daughter.  The  young  lady  to  whom  I  refer  is  Miss 
Jessica  Holcombe.  I  suppose  you  have,  met  her." 

Waverley  Brooks  was  entirely  ignorant  of  his  father's 
feelings,  and  he  was  too  much  absorbed  in  his  own 
thoughts  to  notice  the  shadow  that  spread  over  the  face 
of  the  Judge.  Several  minutes  passed  before  either 
of  them  spoke.  At  length,  Waverley  continued :  "  She 
is  a  lovely  girl.  You  may  be  disappointed  in  my  choice, 
but,  unless  you  are  very  prejudiced,  you  cannot  have 
any  objection  to  her,  as  you  have  to  the  brother." 

"  Have  you  spoken  to  her  yet?"  asked  the  Judge. 

"  No ;  but  I  have  managed  to  betray  myself,"  he  said, 


242  EEDBANK. 

ill  his  simple,  manly  way.  "  I  did  not  intend  to  do  it 
until  after  I  had  had  this  explantion  with  you,  and  had 
also  spoken  with  Alice  and  received  a  final  rejection ; 
but,  somehow,  I  could  not  help  it.  She  is  the  kind  of 
woman  to  inspire  a  grand  passion.  A  man  is  perfectly 
carried  away  in  her  presence,  and  forgets  what  he  is 
doing.  I  intend  to  marry  her."  He  said  this  in  the 
tone  of  determination  which  was  usual  with  him. 

"  How  did  she  receive  your  betrayal,  as  you  call  it  ?  " 
asked  the  Judge  in  a  husky  voice. 

"  She  was  angry,  I  think  ;  her  eyes  flashed  with  indig 
nation  for  a  moment,  and  then  they  seemed  to  go  out. 
The  lids  dropped  over  them.  She  believes  that  I'm 
engaged  to  Alice,  as  everybody  else  does.  She  will  soon 
get  over  her  anger,  when  I  tell  her  the  truth.  I  am 
determined  to  marry  her.  I  have  your  consent,  I  hope." 

"  You  are  a  man,  and  free  to  pursue  your  own  course  ; 
I  shall  never  again  attempt  to  influence  you,"  said 
the  Judge  in  the  same  husky  tone.  His  face  was  dark 
and  stern. 

"  It  is  scarcely  kind  in  you  to  speak  to  me  in  that  man 
ner,"  Waverley  replied.  "  I  wish  always  to  be  influenced 
by  a  father  whom  I  love  and  honor.  Up  to  this  time  I 
have  been  willing  to  be  guided  entirely  by  your  judg 
ment.  If  you  had  permitted  it,  I  would  now  be  the 
husband  of  Alice,  but  you  thought  us  too  young  to  marry 
— you  sent  me  away.  I  do  not  feel  that  I  am  to  blame 
that  things  were  changed  when  I  returned.  Father, 
you  know  well  enough  that  when  a  man  chooses  a  wife, 
he  has  the  right  to  please  himself.  There  are  plenty  of 
risks  even  then.  I  cannot  believe  that  you  have  any 
serious  objection  to  Miss  Holcombe.  I  know  she  is 
without  fortune,  but  there's  not  a  lovelier  girl  in  the 
world." 


KEDBANK.  243 

Judge  Brooks  made  no  reply.  He  felt  only  anxious 
to  terminate  the  interview. 

"  Well,"  he  remarked  at  length,  "  if  you  have  said 
all  that  you  desire  to  say,  you  had  better  leave  me  now. 
I  have  a  great  deal  of  work  on  my  hands  and  cannot 
spare  you  more  time  at  present." 

"  Father,"  replied  the  young  man  in  a  very  earnest 
tone,  "  I  wish  to  go  immediately  to  New  York  and 
make  arrangements  for  my  future.  I  cannot  waste  any 
more  time  at  The  Grove.  Aunt  Kate  does  not  need  me. 
She  is  so  accustomed  to  manage  her.own  affairs  that  she 
does  not  require  the  assistance  of  any  one.  Of  course, 
I  shall  return  and  have  a  talk  with  her  and  Alice,  and, 
with  your  permission,  I  would  like  to  call  oil  Miss 
Holcombe." 

"  I  would  defer  that  awhile,  if  I  were  in  your  place," 
said  the  Judge,  his  face  growing  colder  and  sterner. 
"  At  least  wait  long  enough  to  be  sure  of  your  own  feel- 
ings." 

"  If  I  were  to  wait  a  century,  I  could  not  be  more  sure 
of  my  own  feelings  than  I  am  now,"  Waverley  replied, 
very  gently,  but  with  a  shadow  of  annoyance  on  his  face. 
"  Besides,  I  wish  to  relieve  Miss  Holcombe's  mind  of  a 
false  impression." 

"  Well,  do  as  you  think*  best ;  as  I  said  before,  you  are 
old  enough  to  decide  for  yourself." 

Waverley  arose  and  extended  his  hand  to  his  father. 
"  I  see  that  I  have  hurt  you,"  he  said ;  "  I  am  very 
sorry,  but,  somehow,  I  cannot  help  it.  I  hope  you  will 
forgive  me." 

He  always  felt  like  a  boy  in  his  father's  presence,  for 
the  discipline  of  the  Judge  had  been  severe,  and  was  not 
relaxed  until  the  young  man  was  sent  to  college.  The 
years  spent  away  from  home  had  strengthened  the  self- 


244  REDBANK. 

reliance  of  the  son  without  wholly  subduing  the  domina 
tion  of  the  father.  The  Judge  felt  the  change  in  his 
child,  but  he  had  been  reluctant  to  adjust  himself  to  the 
new  relation.  They  shook  hands. 

"  You  will  come  and  dine  with  me,  I  suppose,"  said 
the  Judge,  as  the  young  man  moved  away  towards  the 
door. 

"  No,  I  am  going  back  to  The  Grove  immediately," 
Waverley  answered ;  "  I  feel  in  a  perfect  fever  to  get 
through  with  this  business.  I  shall  be  in  town  again  in 
a  few  days." 

As  he  was  hurrying  away,  the  Judge  detained  him  a 
moment.  "  Waverley,"  he  said,  "  I  wish  you  would 
allow  me  to  give  you  some  advice  in  regard  to  Miss 
Holcombe.  I  do  not  think  you  have  any  right  to  speak 
to  her  until  your  plans  are  somewhat  settled.  Just 
now,  you  are  all  at  sea.  You  can  go  to  New  York  im 
mediately,  as  you  wish,  and  make  the  necessary  arrange 
ments  for  the  future.  When  that  is  done,  you  can 
return,  and  address  yourself  to  her.  It  would  not  be 
well  to  involve  her  in  all  your  doubts  and  uncertainties. 
She  will  bear  a  prolonged  absence  from  you  under  the 
present  circumstances  better  than  if  engaged  to  you. 
My  son,  you  must  not  be  too  hasty  in  this  matter. 
Your  conduct  towards  Alice  proves  that  it  is  possible 
for  your  sentiments  to  undergo  a  change.  I  think  you 
should  require  some  test  of  yourself  now,  and  also  give 
the  young  lady  an  opportunity  to  examine  her  own  feel 
ings.  Your  acquaintance  with  her  has  been  very  brief. 
I  cannot  believe  that  either  of  you  are  yet  very  deeply 
in  love.  If  you  have  betrayed  your  admiration  for  her, 
and  she  has  really  understood  you,  she  has  too  much 
good  sense  to  suspect  you  of  faithlessness  towards  Alice. 
She  must  perceive  that  you  are  a  gentleman  and  incapa- 


EEDBANK.  245 

ble  of  baseness.  She  will  know  at  once  that  your  rela 
tions  with  your  cousin  are  at  an  end."  He  paused  and 
looked  at  his  son. 

"  Father,"  said  the  young  man,  "  I  love  and  honor 
you  too  much  to  decline  to  accept  your  advice,  but  it  is 
terribly  hard  to  leave  things  as  they  are — to  go  off  with 
out  any  explanation  and  run  the  risk  of  having  her 
doubt  my  honor.  I  do  not  think  you  quite  appreciate 
the  delicacy  of  my  position." 

"  I  am  sure,  Waverley,  that  I  understand  your  posi 
tion  better  than  you  do  yourself ;  I  am  not  so  sure  that 
I  can  estimate  the  strength  and  impetuosity  of  your 
passion." 

As  he  stood  and  pleaded  with  his  son,  Judge  Brooks 
looked  ill  and  tired.  The  young  man  began  to  realize 
how  deeply  he  had  wounded  his  father,  and  an  emotion 
of  mingled  remorse  and  regret  swept  through  his  heart. 

"  Father,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  whose  every  tone  vibrated 
with  affection,  "  I  will  do  anything  that  I  can  to  atone 
for  the  pain  and  vexation  that  I  have  occasioned  you. 
I  will  follow  your  advice,  whatever  it  may  cost  me.  It 
grieves  me  to  feel  that  I  am  disappointing  you  in  so  many 
different  ways.  I  hope  you  may  live  to  see  and  acknowl 
edge  that  I  am  right — that  my  own  growth  as  a  man 
depends  upon  my  following  the  deepest  convictions  of 
my  soul.  You  have  helped  largely  to  make  me  what  I 
am  ;  I  know  you  would  not  undo  your  work  by  forcing 
me  now  into  a  false  environment,  and  giving  me  a  wife 
whose  companionship  could  never  satisfy  me." 

"My  son,"  said  the  Judge,  and  his  voice  trembled 
with  emotion,  "  since  you  were  first  placed,  a  helpless 
infant,  in  my  arms,  and  I  knew  that  I  was  a  father,  I 
have  had  no  sincerer  wish  than  to  see  you  a  good  and 
happy  man.  I  have  tried  to  train  you  wisely ;  I  have 


246  REDBANK. 

tried  to  choose  the  best  things  in  the  world  for  you.  I 
have  always  thought  that  your  gentle  cousin  was  suited 
to  you,  and  would  make  you  a  worthy  wife.  If  I  have 
erred,  you  must  forgive  me." 

"•It  is  I  who  must  ask  to  be  forgiven,"  exclaimed  the 
young  man,  approaching  his  father,  and  extending  his 
hand  in  an  impulsive  fashion.  "  Nothing  could  ever 
make  me  happy,  if  I  felt  that  I  had  forfeited  your  respect 
and  love.  I  should  be  an  outcast,  in  my  own  eyes,  even 
if  the  whole  world  applauded  my  success." 

"  Thank  you,  my  son,"  said  the  Judge  ;  "  it  satisfies 
me  to  know  that  you  are  thoroughly  manly  and  noble, 
though  you  may  disappoint  some  plans  that  I  have  made 
for  you." 

"  Father,  before  I  speak  another  word  to  the  woman 
whom  I  love,  I  would  like  to  have  you  say  that  you 
approve  my  choice."  He  looked  at  the  Judge  as  he 
spoke,  and  again  noticed  the  extreme  pallor  of  his  face. 

"  Waverley,  I  know  Miss  Holcombe  well,  and  I  believe 
her  to  be  worthy  in  every  respect  of  the  noblest  and  best 
man  God  ever  made.  If  you  can  win  her,  I  shall  not 
withhold  my  blessing." 

"  Thank  you,  father,"  said  the  young  man.  "  I'm 
afraid  that  I  have  tired  you.  If  so,  forgive  me.  Good 
bye,"  and  they  clasped  each  other's  hands. 

When  his  son  was  gone,  the  Judge  did  not  resume 
his  seat  at  the  desk.  He  went  to  the  door  and  softly 
locked  it.  Then  he  began  to  pace  slowly  up  and  down 
the  floor.  He  looked  old  and  worn  now  that  the  effort 
of  self-control  was  relaxed.  The  blow  dealt  by  his  son 
had  been  a  heavy  one,  for  he  had  not  abandoned  the  hope 
of  winning  Jessie  Holcombe  for  himself.  His  love  for 
her  was  the  one  passion  of  his  life,  not  the  less  strong 
because  it  had  come  to  him  when  his  hair  was  gray. 


EEDBANK.  247 

Now,  he  knew  that  he  must  resign  this  woman  to  his 
son.  Waverley  had  always  got  what  he  wanted ;  he 
would  get  it  now.  In  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  the  Judge 
admitted  the  righteousness  of  the  young  man's  claim. 
The  best  gifts  of  the  world  are  for  the  young,  not  for, 
the  old.  As  a  father,  it  was  not  in  his  heart  to  withhold 
from  his  son  this  crowning  glory  of  manhood — a  noble 
wife;  but  the  situation  was  unnatural,  and  he  felt  it 
keenly.  The  fiercest  struggle  of  his  life  was  before  him. 
The  battle  must  be  fought,  and  defeat  must  be  borne. 
For  several  hours  he  paced  the  floor  without  once  paus 
ing.  At  length  he  sank  exhausted  in  a  chair.  The  fire 
had  died  out,  and  the  room  was  cold.  A  chill  seized 
upon  him,  and  with  difficulty  he  reached  the  bell  and 
rang  it  violently.  In  a  few  moments  Harris  entered. 
The  faithful  old  servant  was  greatly  shocked  to  see  the 
condition  of  his  master. 

"  Harris,"  said  the  Judge,  "bring  me  a  glass  of  Cognac 
immediately,  and  build  up  the  fire.  I  feel  ill — I'm  afraid 
that  I  have  a  chill." 

The  orders  were  promptly  obeyed.  As  Harris  moved 
off  lie  muttered  to  himself,  "  It's  Marse  Waverley  has 
done  it,  I  knows.  Oh  1  these  chillen !  these  chillen ! 
When  they's  little,  we'se  mighty  proud  of  'em,  and 
thinks  they's  goin'  to  turn  the  world  upside  down,  but 
when  they  gits  big,  they's  nothin'  but  an  eternal  vexa 
tion  and  trouble."  He  shook  his  head  more  than  once, 
for  lie  was  speaking  out  of  the  depths  of  his  own  heart. 

For  a  few  days  the  Judge  was  obliged  to  keep  his 
room,  and  narrowly  escaped  a  serious  illness.  Waverley 
was  recalled  to  the  city  to  assist  in  transacting  some 
needful  business  for  his  father,  and  several  months 
elapsed  before  the  young  man  again  found  himself  at 
The  Grove. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

t 

THE  afternoon  was  cold  and  dreary.  The  breath  of  a 
coming  storm  was  in  the  air.  Jessie  Holcombe  was 
sitting  at  her  window  with  the  dainty  heap  of  crochet 
work  on  her  lap.  Her  patient  fingers  were  busy  making 
the  endless  meshes,  but  her  thoughts  were  far  away. 
She  was  thinking  in  an  incoherent,  fragmentary  way, 
and  trying  at  the  same  time  to  escape  from  all  mental 
effort ;  it  wearied  and  tortured  her  beyond  expression. 
Several  weeks  had  passed  since  that  last  visit  to  The 
Grove,  and  she  had  received  no  news  from  Alice  during 
that  time ;  not  even  a  little  note  had  been  exchanged 
between  them.  She  found  herself  often  wondering  if 
Alice  had  discovered  the  treason  of  her  lover,  and  was 
show'ing  her  anger  and  resentment  by  silence  towards 
her  friend.  Jessie  was  restless  and  wretched.  She 
felt  like  a  helpless  ship  which  the  winds  and  waves 
are  driving  against  the  rocks.  The  old  peace  of  mind, 
the  old  interest  in  the  homely  tasks  of  daily  life,  was 
gone.  She  longed  for  some  excitement  into  which 
she  could  plunge  and  forget  herself  :  more  than  ever 
before,  her  desires  reached  out  to  the  gay  world  of 
which  she  had  occasionally  caught  glimpses.  To  be 
left  alone  day  after  day  with  these  harassing  thoughts, 
was  more  than  she  could  endure.  To  struggle  from  morn 
ing  until  night  for  self-control — to  shrink  from  the  gaze 
of  loving  eyes  lest  they  should  note  a  change  in  her — this 


REVBANK.  249 

surely  was  too  much  for  any  woman's  strength.  She 
lifted  her  eyes  from  the  heap  of  delicate  wool  in  her  lap 
and  looked  down  the  long  avenue.  The  bare  branches 
moved  hither  and  thither  in  the  rising  wind.  The 
lines  were  hard  and  black  against  the  steel  gray  wintry 
sky.  A  pang  of  desolation,  such  as  she  had  never 
before  felt,  pierced  her  heart.  The  complications  of 
life  were  getting  stranger  and  more  cruel,  year  after 
year.  Was  there  no  escape  ?  Would  it  not  be  possi 
ble  to  run  away  from  it  all  ?  Might  she  not  go  to  some 
new  place,  and  work  for  her  daily  bread? — work  so  hard 
that  there  would  be  no  time  to  think,  or  long,  or  grieve  ? 
She  had  a  great  dread  of  meeting  Waverley  Brooks 
again — perhaps  she  never  would  ! — and  her  face  grew 
still  paler  with  a  sickening  sense  of  loneliness  and  de 
spair.  She  knew  that  he  possessed  a  mysterious  power 
over  her  which  she  could  never  hope  to  resist.  She  knew 
that  it  would  be  worse  than  madness  to  yield  to  his  mast 
ery,  and  yet  the  thought  of  seeing  him  no  more  was  in 
tolerable.  She  laid  her  head  back  upon  the  cushions  of 
the  chair,  and  closed  her  eyes  in  weariness  and  perplexity. 
She  was  aroused  by  a  low  tap  at  the  door,  and  Oliver  en 
tered  with  some  letters  and  papers.  The  mail  had  ar 
rived,  and  she  was  glad  to  have  a  share  for  herself.  She 
took  up  one  envelope  and  looked  at  it ;  the  writing  was 
not  familiar,  and  she  tore  it  open  with  feverish  haste — 
only  wedding-cards.  Nettie  Hunter  was  really  going  to 
be  married  at  last.  The  next  letter  was  from  the  young 
lady  herself.  It  contained  an  urgent  invitation  for 
Jessie  to  assist  at  the  ceremony  as  one  of  the  brides 
maids.  No  refusal  would  be  accepted.  Her  dress  would 
be  ordered  immediately  with  the  others,  and  she  must 
come  up  by  all  means  the  day  before  the  wedding. 
Jessie  Holcombe  and  Nettie  Hunter  had  been  school- 


950  REDBANK. 

mates  years  ago  in  Staunton,  Virginia,  and  the  intimacy 
between  them  then  had  been  close  and  warm.  When 
Jessie  came  South  to  live  with  her  sister,  the  friendship 
had  been  renewed  with  enthusiasm  on  both  sides,  and 
occasional  visits  had  been  exchanged  between  the  two 
girls. 

Jessie  smiled  as  she  laid  down  the  letter  of  her  friend. 
After  all,  there  were  diversions  in  life  ;  one  was  not  left 
to  brood  without  a  break  over  annoyances  and  troubles. 

Something  was  happening  continually.  Who  could 
guess  what  the  future  might  contain  ?  It  was  not  rea 
sonable  to  be  oppressed  by  gloomy  thoughts — to  yield 
to  despair.  "  Behind  the  clouds  the  sun  was  still 
shining." 

The  girl  arose  from  her  seat,  folded  up  the  snowy 
shawl  in  its  protecting  napkin,  and  laid  it  away  in  a 
drawer.  Then  she  shook  out  her  dress,  smoothed  her 
hair,  and  went  to  find  Eleanor. 

That  evening  at  the  supper-table,  the  Colonel  looked 
at  Jessie,  and  said,  u  Well,  I  hear  you  are  going  to  a 
wedding.  That  sounds  very  nice.  I  would  like  to  go 
myself,  if  I  could  find  the  time.  I  hope  Miss  Nettie 
won't  jilt  the  fellow  at  the  last  minute.  If  I  were  in 
his  boots,  I  would  feel  a  little  scared." 

"  She  must  be  in  earnest  now,  since  she  has  sent  out 
the  cards,"  said  Mrs.  Winston. 

"  I  can  never  imagine  her  very  much  in  earnest  about 
anything,"  said  the  Colonel.  "  How  many  times  has  she 
been  engaged,  Jessie  ?  " 

The  girl  smiled  and  shook  her  head. 

"  I  have  not  kept  the  account  very  carefully,  but  I 
should  think  about  twenty-five  times  at  least.  When  I 
first  met  her,  she  had  a  diamond  ring  on  her  third  fin 
ger,  and  talked  very  freely  of  her  fiance.  That  was  a 


REDBANK.  251 

good  many  years  ago.  I  really  believe  she  was  born 
engaged." 

"  Well,  I  do  not  feel  inclined  to  congratulate  the 
gentleman  who  has  picked  up  the  fragments  of  her 
poor  little  heart,"  said  the  Colonel,  breaking  into  a 
laugh. 

"  I  wonder  if  he  knows  how  many  times  the  poor 
little  heart  has  been  broken,"  exclaimed  Jessie,  reflect 
ing  the  amusement  of  her  brother-in-law  on  her  own 
face.  , 

"  Jessie,  my  dear,"  he  said,  "  it  is  all  nonsense  for  us 
to  be  talking  seriously  about  hearts.  Young  ladies  don't 
have  hearts  these  days.  They  have  Saratoga  trunks 
instead,  and  the  bigger  and  fuller  the  trunk,  the  hap 
pier  the  girl.  Nettie  Hunter  is  a  typical  girl  of  the 
period." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,"  said  Mrs.  Winston ;  "  it  has 
been  her  misfortune  to  be  an  only  child.  She  has  been 
petted  and  spoiled  to  death,  and  is  consequently  very 
selfish ;  but  there  is  some  latent  good  in  her  nature. 
Life  has  not  been  earnest  enough  for  her  yet  awhile. 
When  she  has  a  family  and  real  care  falls  upon  her,  she 
will  develop  into  a  good  and  sensible  woman.  I'm  sure 
she  will.  I  believe  in  the  laws  of  heredity,  and  she  has 
excellent  parents." 

"  I'm  very  fond  of  her,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  at  school  every 
body  liked  her ;  she  was  so  kind-hearted  and  generous 
and  amusing.  One  thing  is  certain,  her  husband  will 
never  suffer  from  dulness." 

"I'm  glad  fate  did  not  choose  me  for  the  place," 
exclaimed  the  Colonel,  "  she  is  so  restless,  and  such  a 
dreadful  chatterbox.  It  would  kill  me  to  live  with  such 
a  creature.  I  like  a  quiet  woman,  whose  voice  is  low 
and  sweet." 


252  REDBANK. 

"That  is  what  men  always  say,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Winston,  a  little  impatiently ;  "  it  is  a  kind  of  theory 
with  them;  but  in  practice,  they  invariably  choose  the 
sprightly,  saucy,  restless,  coquettish  chatterbox." 

Her  husband  looked  at  her  and  said :  "  I  didn't,  my 
dear." 

"  Your  wife  wasn't  far  from  it  when  you  chose  her," 
the  lady  replied  ;  "  time  has  subdued  her." 

"  And  the  discipline  of  living  with  me,"  he  added 
with  perfect  good-humor. 

"  Yes,"  she  assented  with  a  smile. 

"  Well,  you  might  have  got  a  worse  husband,  my 
dear." 

"  Of  course,  there  are  always  risks  in  marrying.  Pos 
sibly  I  might  have  got  a  better  one." 

"  Very  true.  It's  a  pity  we  cannot  go  back,  and  do 
it  over  again.  Isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  still  smiling. 

"  Well,  my  dear,  however  it  may  be  with  you,  I  can 
truthfully  say  that  I  have  never  yet  repented  of  my 
bargain." 

"  There,  Nell,"  cried  Jessie,  "  after  that  splendid 
compliment,  I'm  sure  you  cannot  continue  the  contro 
versy.  I  would  ask  nothing  more  of  my  husband,  after 
fifteen  years  of  married  life,  than  such  an  acknowledg 
ment.  It  is  almost  as  good  as  canonization." 

"  I  think  you  will  get  it,  my  dear,"  said  the  Colonel, 
veiy  soberly. 

"  Thanks !  "  exclaimed  Jessie,  "  I'll  come  round  and 
kiss  you  for  that  gracious  speech."  She  arose  from  her 
chair  and  approached  the  Colonel.  He  threw  back  his 
head  and  stroked  down  his  long  gray  beard.  "  Promise 
to  take  me  to  the  city  a  week  from  to-day,"  she  said, 


UEUUANK.  253 

"  1  promise." 

Then  she  gave  him  two  kisses  in  quick  succession. 

"  Make  it  three  for  good  luck,"  he  said.  She  stooped 
and  kissed  him  again.  The  price  of  cotton  was  up,  and 
the  Colonel's  spirits  were  high. 

When  the  appointed  time  arrived,  Jessie,  accompanied 
by  the  Colonel,  started  on  the  journey  to  the  city. 
Nettie  Hunter  welcomed  her  friend  with  the  most  en 
thusiastic  cordiality,  and  poured  out  a  stream  of  eager 
talk,  interspersed  with  laughter.  "  You  dear,  darling, 
delightful  girl ! "  she  exclaimed  again  and  again ;  "  I 
can't  begin  to  tell  you  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you.  I 
didn't  really  believe  that  you  were  coming,  and,  if  you 
had  disappointed  me,  I  would  have  refused  to  be  mar 
ried." 

"  Why  did  you  think  that  I  would  not  come?  " 

"  Oh  !  because — let  me  see  if  I  can  find  a  reason, — 
I  didn't  think  you  would  feel  sufficient  interest  in 
the  sacrifice  to  care  to  witness  the  agonies  of  the 
victim." 

Jessie  laughed  and  said,  "  Well,  you  see  that  you 
were  mistaken.  I  assure  you  I  shall  find  the  agonies 
of  the  victim  very  interesting.  A  wedding  is  always  a 
spectacle  worth  seeing.  You  know  it  is  the  central 
point  of  life,  as  birth  is  the  beginning  and  death  the 
end." 

"  Please  don't  moralize,"  said  Nettie ;  "  it  makes  me 
feel  too  solemn.  I  am  nervous,  and  cannot  stand  it," 
and  she  laughed  merrily. 

"  You  nervous,  Nettie  !     I  cannot  believe  it." 

u  Well,  it  is  the  truth  nevertheless  ;  and  that's  really 
one  reason  why  I  wanted  you  to  come  so  dreadfully. 
Papa's  nervous,  mamma's  nervous,  I'm  nervous,  and 
the  servants  are  nervous,  and  the  house  itself  is  getting 


254  BEDBANK. 

rather  shaky.  We  wanted  you,  dear,  to  steady  the 
whole  establishment — you  sweet,  serene  creature  !  The 
ceremony  would  have  been  a  perfect  failure,  if  you  had 
not  come  ;  we  would  all  have  broken  down  at  the  most 
interesting  part,  and,  probably,  floated  off  on  a  sea  of 
tears." 

k'  I  can't  understand  how  I'm  to  prevent  it." 

"  Why,  you  are  a  bit  of  terra  firma,  my  dear,  and  we 
are  all  going  to  anchor  there.  Jessie,  darling,"  said 
Nettie,  after  a  short  pause,  "  I've  got  no  end  of  things 
to  tell  you.  I  want  your  advice  and  assistance  in 
clearing  the  atmosphere  of  my  thoughts.  Everything 
within  me  seems  to  be  dissolving  into  mist  and  moon 
shine." 

"  That  is  indeed  pathetic  ;  but  I'm  afraid  you  are  ex 
pecting  too  -much  of  me.  I'm  a  person  of  very  limited 
capacities.  Your  boundless  vitality  and  vivacity  always 
makes  me  feel  as  if  I  were  not  more  than  half 
alive." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  exclaimed  Nettie  ;  "  you've  got  enough 
in  you  to  make  half  a  dozen  women  like  me.  Around 
you  there's  a  calm  like  the  serene  heavens  !  " 

"  Oh  !  Nettie,  Nettie,  don't  rave,  I  beseech  you.  Too 
much  happiness  has  affected  your  brain." 

"I  am  not  mad,  most  noble  lady,  but  speak  forth  the 
words  of  soberness  and  truth." 

"  Well,  we  will  not  quarrel.  I  hope,  dear,  you  have 
not  tired  yourself  to  death  over  the  trousseau."  The 
two  girls  were  now  upstairs  in  the  bedroom  of  Miss 
Hunter,  and  garments  of  different  kinds  lay  around  in 
promiscuous  heaps. 

"  Yes,  I  have,"  replied  Nettie  ;  "  I  have  worn  out  at 
lea^t  a  dozen  pairs  of  shoes,  walking  the  streets,  and 
going  to  that  dreadful  dro  jsmaker.  I  trust  I  may  never 


255 

be  compelled  to  have  another  gown,  as  she  calls  them, 
for  I've  been  fitted  until  my  dorsal  column  is  worn  out. 
Jessie,  if  you  are  ever  silly  enough  to  consent  to 
marry  a  man,  don't,  I  beseech  you,  have  a  trousseau. 
It  is  by  far  the  most  serious  part  of  the  whole  affair. 
Without  it,  things  would  move  on  smoothly,  but  when 
one  is  tired  to  death,  what  is  more  natural  than  to  get 
cross,  and  quarrel  with  the  guilty  man  who  has  brought 
so  much  trouble  on  you  ?  " 

"  I  will  be  sure  to  remember,"  said  Jessie,  smiling. 
"  But  do  tell  me  something,  please,  about  the  partic 
ular  man.  I'm  full  of  curiosity.  I  want  a  complete 
account  of  him  from  your  own  lips." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  tell,"  replied  Nettie,  shaking 
her  head.  "  Just  at  present  he  seems  altogether  nega 
tive  to  me." 

"  But,  surely,  he  has  eyes  and  hair.  Tell  me  the  color 
of  them,  and  whether  he  is  long  or  short,  fair  or  dark." 

"  No  ;  I  will  leave  you  to  see  for  yourself.  I  used  to 
think  him  handsome,  but  either  he  has  lost  his  beauty, 
or  I  have  been  disenchanted.  I  never  think  of  his  looks 
at  all  now." 

"  Which  proves  that  you  are  very  much  in  love." 

"  Yes,  Jessie,"  and  her  tones  were  almost  solemn,  "  I 
seem  to  have  entered  a  little  world  where  there  are  only 
two  people — he  and  I.  Everything  is  in  a  kind  of 
beautiful  disorder.  I  feel  as  if  it  were  to  be  my  task  to 
regulate  and  arrange  and  reign  over  this  new  sphere. 
Jessie,  Jessie,  that  thought  frightens  me  ! "  she  ex 
claimed,  with  a  nervous  jump  and  clutch  at  her  friend. 
"  What  kind  of  a  world  will  it  be  with  such  a  silly  little 
creature  as  I  am  for  its  queen  ?  " 

"  A  beautiful  little  world,  with  everything  well  ar 
ranged  and  well  governed,"  said  Jessie. 


:>56  flEDBANK. 

"  The  truth  is,  I'm  getting  thoroughly  scared  at  tli  > 
thought  of  the  future  ! "  and  the  young  lady  shivere  . 
slightly.  "  That  is  what  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about 
to-night.  I  must  make  a  full  confession  before  my  exe 
cution,  and  you  have  been  selected  as  the  confessor." 

"  How  are  your  mother  and  father  ?  "  asked  Jessie, 
after  a  short  pause. 

"  Worn  to  a  frazzle,  both  of  them  !  Mamma  is  down 
stairs,  attending  to  something — I  don't  know  what, — 
and  papa  is  at  the  vestry." 

"  Tell  me  about  all  the  girls.     Are  they  changed?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least.  Bess  and  Clara  and  Hetty  and  Sue 
and  Laura  are  all  going  to  be  bridesmaids.  They  will 
be  round  in  the  morning  for  a  kind  of  rehearsal,  and  I 
know  they  will  be  delighted  to  see  you.  The  dear  old 
Bishop  is  going  to  perform  the  ceremony." 

Here  Nettie  jumped  up  from  her  chair,  and  exclaimed, 
"  Don't  you  want  to  see  some  of  my  finery,  Jessie  ?  " 
She  pushed  back  the  sliding  doors  of  a  large  room  which 
communicated  with  her  own.  "  It  looks  like  a  big 
fancy  store,  doesn't  it?"  and  she  broke  into  a  merry 
laugh. 

Dresses,  dressing-gowns,  breakfast-sacques,  sashes, 
ribbons,  stockings,  slippers,  and  every  other  article  of  a 
woman's  toilette,  were  thrown  in  confusion  upon  the 
bed,  sofa,  tables,  and  chairs.  Drawers  and  trunks  were 
wide  open,  and  their  miscellaneous  contents  were  stream 
ing  out  upon  the  floor. 

"Did  you  ever  see  such  a  room  in  all  your  life, 
Jessie  ?  "  she  asked  ;  "  it's  enough  to  give  one  the  brain- 
fever,  isn't  it  ?  It's  a  thousand  pities  that  I'm  not  going 
to  marry  a  doctor,  for  I  know  I  shall  be  desperately  ill, 
when  it  is  all  over.  Well,  it  is  at  least  a  consolation  to 
know  that  his  name  is  Sage.  I  do  hope  he  will  have 


BEDBANK.  257 

wisdom  enough  for  both  of  us."  Again  she  broke  into 
a  peal  of  laughter,  in  which  Jessie  heartily  joined. 

"  It  does  seem  amusing,  Nettie,  that  you  of  all  per 
sons  in  the  world  should  be  called  Mrs.  Sage." 

"  Yes,  it's  a  punishment  for  my  past  levity.  I  accept 
it  as  such."  She  bustled  around  as  she  spoke,  moving 
things  here  and  there  without  much  idea  of  what  she 
was  doing.  "  Only  think  of  it !  "  she  exclaimed  sud 
denly,  as  if  the  idea  had  just  that  minute  occurred  to 
her — K  I  have  got  to  put  up  all  these  things,  and  know 
exactly  where  every  article  is.  Doesn't  the  task  look 
perfectly  hopeless  ?  " 

It  was  still  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  Jessie  said, 
quickly,  "  Well,  begin  right  away,  then ;  I  will  help 
you  pack  your  trunks.  I  think  we  can  get  it  done 
before  dinner.  Then  there  will  be  some  comfort  in 
talking.  I  never  have  any  sense  when  a  room  is  in  dis 
order  ,  the  confusion  seems  to  be  communicated  to  my 
brain." 

"  You  darling  girl !  The  suggestion  is  admirable," 
cried  Nettie.  "  I  feel  considerably  clarified  since  your 
arrival.  Your  very  voice  helps  to  settle  me.  I  will  go 
and  lock  the  doors,  and  we  will  begin  right  away." 

She  went  into  her  own  room  and  locked  the  door  of 
entrance  from  the  hall.  "  That's  to  keep  poor  mamma 
out,"  she  said ;  "  the  truth  is,  she  is  only  one  remove 
from  a  lunatic,  and  I  don't  wonder,  for  I  have  almost 
killed  her.  I  have  wanted  eveiything  under  the  sun, 
and  she  has  tried  hard  to  satisfy  me.  Jessie,  it  is  a 
great  misfortune  to  be  an  only  child — you  never  get  half 
whipping  enough."  Soon  she  went  into  a  small  room 
beyond  the  one  in  which  they  were  sitting.  In  a  mo 
ment  she  called  through  the  open  door,  "  Come  here, 
Jessie  ;  come  and  see  it." 


•258  REDBANK. 

Jessie  promptly  obeyed  the  summons.  Upon  the  bed. 
spread  out  in  all  its  spotless  purity,  was  the  bridal  dress 
and  veil. 

"  Isn't  it  lovely?"  asked  the  happy  little  bride,  as  she 
raised  the  corsage  to  pull  out  the  lace  and  orange 
blossoms. 

"  Yes,  it  is  exquisite,  and  much  more  appropriate  for 
a  petite  creature  like  you,  than  white  satin  would  have 
been." 

The  dress  was  of  creamy  silk,  with  clouds  of  illusion 
falling  over  it.  There  was  something  almost  spiritual 
in  its  gauzy  daintiness.  As  one  looked  at  it,  one  thought 
of  fairies  and  sylphs,  and  other  ethereal  creatures. 

After  contemplating  various  bits  of  the  wedding 
finery,  the  girls  went  back  to  the  room  where  the  open 
trunks  were  standing  ready  to  receive  the  condensed 
wardrobe  of  the  bride.  Nettie  began  to  turn  the  con 
tents  of  the  bureau  drawers  upon  the  floor. 

"  There,  if  you  will,  Jessie,  you  may  fold  up  those 
things  and  put  them  into  that  trunk,  while  I  will  under 
take  this  one.  You  see  how  selfish  I  am,  for  I  give  you 
the  biggest  trunk.  I  always  lay  the  heavest  burdens  on 
others." 

"  Well,  you  know  I  am  perfectly  fresh,  while  you  are 
almost  tired  to  death.  Besides,  I  really  enjoy  handling 
all  these  lovely  things.  How  pretty  they  are  !  "  And 
she  tenderly  lifted  the  linen,  so  exquisitely  embroidered 
and  trimmed  with  dainty  lace.  While  they  folded  and 
laid  away  the  garments,  the  gay  talk  went  on  ceaselessly, 
interspersed  with  exclamations  and  merry  peals  of 
laughter.  At  the  end  of  two  hours,  the  rooms  were 
cleared  of  confusion,  and  the  trunks  were  almost  packed. 
Then  there  was  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door,  and  when  it 
was  unlocked,  Mrs.  Hunter  entered. 


REDBANK.  259 

"Why,  Jessie,"  she  exclaimed,  "  I  did  not  know  you 
were  here,  dear.  I  have  been  so  busy  all  the  morning 
with  caterers  and  confectioners  and  florists,  and  all  sorts 
of  people,  that  I  have  not  once  looked  out  of  the 
windows.  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you!  And  how 
pleasant  it  is  to  find  things  somewhat  in  order !  I  know 
Fin  indebted  to  you,  dear.  I  just  came  upstairs  to  see 
about  the  packing.  There  were  so  many  other  things 
to  be  done,  that  I  could  not  get  to  that,  and,  as  you 
know,  Nettie  is  very  helpless  unless  she  has  some  one 
to  direct  and  assist  her." 

"  Yes,  mamma,  the  worst  of  it  is  over  now.  The  rest 
can  easily  be  done  to-morrow  morning.  So  you  may 
just  seat  yourself,  and  fold  your  hands  on  your  lap. 
Poor  little  tired  mother  !  "  she  exclaimed,  going  up  to 
Mrs.  Hunter  and  kissing  her. 

"  Well,  dear,  I  am  so  glad  to  have  this  packing  out  of 
the  way,  that  I  will  sit  down  a  minute.  Now  we  can  hope 
for  a  quiet  evening — our  last  evening  together  !  "  And 
she  sighed.  "  I  know  your  father  will  like  that,  for  he 
has  been  so  disgusted  with  the  flurry  and  confusion. 
He  said  only  this  morning  that  he  had  a  great  mind  to 
stay  at  the  vestry  until  it  was  all  over.  He  is  a  quiet 
man  and  dislikes  commotion.  Poor  papa  ;  what  would 
he  have  done  with  a  dozen  sons,  one  daughter  has 
almost  killed  him.  I  am  only  thankful  that  I  have  but 
one,"  said  Mrs.  Hunter. 

She  was  a  sweet,  gentle,  unobtrusive  woman,  with 
a  loving  heart  and  a  weak  will.  It  was  strange  that 
she  should  have  such  a  daughter  as  Nettie  ;  and  yet  the 
virtues  of  a  mother  are  sometimes  fatal  to  the  growth 
of  a  daughter's  character.  From  her  cradle,  Nettie 
Hunter  had  ruled  both  father  and  mother  with  pretty 
imperiousness ;  she  had  grown  up  so  frivolous  and 


260  REDBANK. 

self-willed  as  greatly  to  endanger  her  own  happi 
ness.  Within  the  shelter  of  home,  her  thoughtless  and 
midutiful  conduct  had  reduced  her  mother  to  a  mere 
cipher ;  and,  outside,  it  had  reflected  upon  her  father, 
and  lessened  his  influence  as  a  clergyman.  ,  Yet,  excuses 
were  always  made  for  her ;  she  was  an  only  child,  and 
her  selfishness  was  overlooked  on  this  plea.  She  was 
pretty  and  bright  and  overflowing  with  animal  spirits, 
and  these  attractions  covered  up  a  multitude  of  minor 
transgressions.  She  was  also  very  good-natured  and 
free  from  envy,  or  malice,  or  uncharitableness,  and  so 
made  many  friends  and  few  enemies.  On  the  whole, 
she  was  very  popular  in  her  native  town,  and  her  mar 
riage  was  an  event  which  interested  every  one. 

In  the  evening,  Mr.  Sage  called,  and  Jessie  looked  at 
him  with  a  great  deal  of  curiosity.  He  was  a  hand 
some  man,  with  a  slight  tendency  to  stoutness ;  his 
manners  were  very  easy  and  natural,  and  it  was  evident 
that  his  temperament  was  phlegmatic.  There  was  some 
thing  exceedingly  frank  and  pleasing  about  his  face,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  a  certain  clearness  of  gaze  which  con 
vinced  you  of  his  shrewdness  and  business  ability.  It 
was  easy  to  see  that  he  was  very  much  in  love  with  his 
fiancee  ;  he  was  amused  at  her  chatter,  and  watched  her 
graceful  motions  with  quiet  contentment.  It  was  also 
probable  that  he  would  know  how  to  manage  her  when 
she  belonged  to  him,  for  he  looked  both  patient  and 
determined.  He  had  recently  come  to  the  city  to 
establish  a  branch  firm  of  a  banking-house  in  New  York, 
and  immediately,  on  his  arrival,  he  had  become  the  big 
fish  for  which  all  the  pretty  girls  began  to  angle.  Miss 
Hunter  had  been  the  successful  one.  It  now  remained 
to  be  seen  what  he  would  do  with  this  spoiled  child,  this 
flippant  belle. 


REDBANK,  26! 

When  Nettie  marched  Mr.  Sage  up  and  presented  him 
to  her  friend,  she  exclaimed  in  her  clear,  ringing  voice, 
"  Now,  Jessie,  do  tell  me  what  you  think  of  him.  I  have 
left  you  unprejudiced  on  purpose.  Come,  out  with  it." 

The  gentleman  laughed,  and  so  did  the  young  lady, 
but  Miss  Hunter  was  very  sober. 

"  So  you  think  you  have  left  me  unprejudiced?  "  said 
Jessie  ;  "  that's  a  mistake.  To  be  your  choice  is  a  de 
cided  prejudice  in  his  favor.  Have  I  not  always  con 
sidered  your  taste  faultless  ?" 

Mr.  Sage  bowed  his  thanks,  but  Nettie  was  not  satis 
fied. 

"That  won't  do,"  she  said  ;  "I  want  him  judged  on 
his  own  merits.  Look  at  him  well,  and  tell  me  honestly 
and  truly  what  you  think  of  him." 

As  she  spoke  she  touched  the  gentleman  under  the 
chin  to  make  him  hold  up  his  head. 

"  Now  turn  out  your  toes,  throw  back  your  shouldeis, 
and  prepare  for  regular  military  inspection!"  she  ec- 
claimed. 

All  three  were  now  laughing,  and  Jessie's  fa^e 
was  brilliant  with  color,  as  she  said — "  The  model  n 
gentleman  appreciates  his  own  merits  so  highly,  that  he 
can  dispense  with  praise  from  others." 

"  And  is  that  really  your  opinion  of  the  modern  gen 
tleman  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Sage.  "  To  look  at  your  face  one 
would  not  suspect  you  of  such  harsh  judgments. 

"  I  only  speak  of  them  as  a  class ;  there  are  always 
exceptions — possibly  your  case  may  be  one.  About  that 
I  cannot  yet  decide.  Five  minutes  is  too  short  a  time  for 
making  up  one's  mind  on  such  a  subject." 

"  Don't  feel  badly,  Clarence,"  said  Nettie  in  a  caress 
ing  tone  ;  "  before  she  is  twenty-four  hours  older,  I'll 
get  at  the  V3iy  bottom  of  her  heart,  and  then  I'll  tell 


262  KEDBANK. 

you  exactly  what  she  thinks  of  you,  provided  you'll 
promise  to  be  a  good  boy  and  mind  me  always."  And 
she  laughed  lightly. 

"  I'm  surprised  that  you  should  care  for  my  opinion, 
Nettie,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  since  you  are  satisfied  with  him, 
you  can  afford  to  be  indifferent  to  what  other  people 
think." 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  the  gentleman  ;  "  we  always 
wish  our  choice  to  be  approved  by  our  friends.  '  It  is 
like  putting  a  seal  upon  an  important  document." 

"  Well,  I  think  you  will  answer,  Mr.  Sage,"  said 
Jessie,  smiling,  "  ancj,  I  give  you  both  my  blessing.  If 
good  wishes  were  favorable  winds,  mine  would  waft 
your  ship  safely  into  port." 

"  Thanks,  Miss  Holcombe ;  I  think  good  wishes  are 
very  much  like  favorable  winds.  They  fill  one's  sails 
with  hope  and  encouragement." 

"  Yes,  the  crises  of  life — such  as  violent  illness,  or 
matrimony,  are  not  without  their  pleasant  side,  Mr. 
Sage.  So  many  people  gather  around  you  with  spoken 
or  unspoken  kindness  that  you  feel  wonderfully  strength 
ened." 

"  The  crises  of  life,  such  as  violent  illness  or  matri 
mony  ! "  he  repeated,  while  a  smile  lighted  up  his  face. 
"  That's  a  strange  sentence.  Why  do  you  couple  illness 
and  matrimony  ?  " 

"  How  stupid  you  are,  Clarence  ! — for  the  sake  of 
contrast,  of  course,"  exclaimed  Miss  Hunter.  "  Because 
they  both  excite  attention  in  a  community  ;  they  both 
appeal  to  the  multitude  for  sympathy,  and  the  multitude 
usually  respond  with  a  generous  outpour.  To-morrow 
the  whole  city  will  be  excited,  and  stirred  up  by  the 
thought  that  a  beautiful  girl  is  going  to  be  mar 
ried. 


II  El)  HANK.  268 

"It  is  awfully  jolly  to  be  tlie  centre  of  such  excite 
ment,  isn't  it  ?  "  asked  Nettie,  looking  up  at  the  gentle 
man,  and  laughing ;  "  only  think  of  being  the  centre  of 
gravity  of  the  Universe  !  " 

"•  You  irreverent  creature  !  "  he  said,  joining  in  her 
laughter. 

"  No,  I'm  not.  The  universe  to  me  is  that  part  of 
creation  which  comes  within  my  own  feeble  powers  of 
observation — a  small  section  of  this  city,  for  instance. 
What's  all  the  outside  to  me  ?  Only  infinite,  unpeo 
pled  space." 

"  The  most  interesting  part  of  creation  to  me  is  that 
which  is  outside,"  said  Jessie.  "  The  unknown  pos 
sesses  more  awful  fascination  than  the  known." 

"  Ah  !  that  shows  the  difference  between  my  person 
ality  and  yours  !  "  cried  Miss  Hunter. 

"  You  have  imagination,  and  she  has  none,"  said  Mr. 
Sage,  looking  first  at  one,  then  at  the  other. 

"  That's  a  very  perplexing  statement,"  Miss  Hunter 
replied;  "  who  is  the  you,  and  who  is  the  she.  Tell  me 
instantly,  sir." 

"  No,"  he  answered,  reflecting  her  playfulness,  "  I'll 
leave  you  to  find  out.  Behold  a  problem  for  your  clever 
little  brain  to  solve." 

"  I  knoAV  perfectly  well,"  she  said,  nodding  her  small 
head  in  a  threatening  manner ;  "  the  complimentary 
part  of  that  sentence  was  meant  for  Miss  Jessie  Hoi- 
combe,  and  I  have  a  great  mind  to  pull  your  hair." 

"  Please  do  ;  it  will  be  a  foretaste  of  the  delights  in 
store  for  me.  I  shall  enjoy  it  very  much." 

"  Yes,  it  will  indeed  be  a  foretaste,"  she  replied, 
laughing  as  merrily  as  a  little  child  ;  "  I  always  pull  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hunter's  hair  when  he  vexes  me,  and  you  see 
the  result." 


264  REDBANK. 

Her  father  entered  the  room  at  that  moment,  and  the 
slight  baldness  to  which  she  had  referred  was  plainly 
visible.  She  arched  her  brows,  and  glanced  at  it. 

"  I  heard  my  name  spoken.  Who  was  talking  about 
me  ?  "  he  asked.  He  was  a  small,  meek-looking  man, 
very  noiseless  in  all  his  movements  ;  he  had  glided  into 
their  midst  like  a  phantom  which  appears  at  the  utter 
ance  of  a  name. 

"  "Who  but  your  graceless  daughter  ?  "  she  said  in  a 
playful  tone ;  "  no  one  else  would  dare  to  take  your 
name  in  vain." 

He  rolled  an  easy-chair  near  the  fire  and  sat  down. 
Presently,  he  held  out  his  hand  and  said,  "  Come  and  sit 
beside  me,  Jessie."  The  girl  promptly  obeyed  and  he 
took  her  hand  in  both  of  his,  stroking  it  softly,  while  he 
looked  into  the  glowing  coals.  "  Tell  me  about  the 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Winston.  How  are  they  both  ?  I 
have  been  wanting  to  go  down  to  Redbank  to  see  them, 
but  I  am  very  busy  all  the  time."  When  she  had  fin 
ished  telling  him  about  his  friends,  he  relapsed  into  si 
lence.  He  looked  very  tired  and  sad,  and  she  knew  that 
he  was  thinking  about  the  wedding  that  was  to  take 
place  to-morrow.  After  a  while  he  said,  very  simply, 
"  I  am  afraid  I  shall  be  very  desolate,  when  my  daughter 
is  gone,  Jessie." 

"  You  must  not  look  upon  that  as  a  loss.  You  are 
going  to  gain  a  son,  not  lose  a  daughter." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,  my  dear  ;  her  home  will  no 
longer  be  with  us — it  is  even  best  that  it  should  not 
be.  She  will  need  a  home  of  her  own  to  develop  all 
womanly  and  wifely  qualities.  That  of  itself  will  make 
a  great  difference  in  my  life." 

The  lovers  moved  off  into  the  next  room,  and  the 


REDBANK.  265 

murmur  of  their  voices  came  through  the  half-open  door. 
The  heart  of  the  father  seemed  to  grow  sadder  as  he 
listened  to  the  sound. 

"  It  is  a  great  trial  to  give  up  our  only  one,  Jessie," 
he  said,  with  a  faint  sigh  ;  "  I  know  she  is  very  far  from 
being  a  perfect  woman,  but  she  has  made  our  home 
very  bright  and  cheerful,  and  I  am  afraid  my  wife  and 
I  will  sink  into  old  age  when  she  is  gone." 

"Oh!  no,"  exclaimed  the  young' girl;  "you  have 
troops  of  friends — everybody  in  the  city  loves  you  ;  they 
will  all  pity  your  loneliness  and  come  often  to  cheer 
you." 

"  Yes,  dear,  I  think  all  my  people  do  love  me,  but  it 
is  not  quite  the  same  kind  of  love  that  a  daughter  feels. 
You  must  grow  a  little  older  yourself,  Jessie,  before  you 
can  appreciate  the  different  kinds  of  love  and  all  the 
delicate  shades.  Some  kinds  leave  one  rather  hungry, 
and  some  satisfy  with  a  perfect  fullness." 

"I  know  that  well,"  replied  the  girl  in  a  sweet 
sympathetic  tone ;  "  and  I  think  I  know  also  how  you 
feel  to-night.  The  changes  of  life — the  comings  and 
the  goings  and  the  droppings  out  of  sight — are  desper 
ately  hard  to  bear ;  but  somehow  we  get  used  to  them." 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,  dear  ;  we  get  used  to  them.  We 
often  think  of  Nature  as  a  cruel  step-mother,  but  there 
are  times  when  she  shows  us  the  deep  tenderness  of  a 
real  mother.  I  must  try  to  shake  off  this  feeling  of 
sadness  which  has  taken  possession  of  me  to-night.  Will 
you  not  go  and  play  for  me,  dear  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  will,"  she  answered  quickly,  and  seating 
herself  at  the  piano,  she  began  a  gay  waltz.  Soon  she 
heard  Miss  Hunter  and  Mr.  Sage  whirling  around  and 
laughing  in  the  next  room.  When  quite  out  of  breath, 
they  came  in  and  stood  by  the  piano. 


'266  REDBANK. 

"  Jessie,"  said  her  friend,  "  this  odious  man  has  done 
nothing  but  compliment  you  for  the  last  hour.  I  have 
been  trying  in  vain  to  stop  him ;  but  he  defies  my 
authority,  and  laughs  at  my  anguish." 

"  My  daughter,"  said  Mr.  Hunter,  "  you  must  not 
talk  in  such  a  reckless  manner.  You  have  not  been 
out  of  the  room  more  than  ten  minutes." 

"  Well,  it  has  been  an  hour  to  me,  and  a  very  stupid 
one  too,"  she  replied,  laughing.  Then  going  up  to  her 
father,  she  kissed  him.  "  You  dear  old  papa !  I'm 
not  half  good  enough  for  your  daughter.  You  must 
adopt  Jessie ;  she  will  suit  you  exactly." 

"  I  wish  I  could,"  he  answered. 

"  Say,  Jessie,"  exclaimed  Nettie ;  "  stop  your  noise 
for  a  minute,  and  listen  to  me.  Can't  you  come  up,  and 
look  after  this  old  couple  when  I'm  gone  ?  "  There  was 
not  a  trace  of  emotion  in  her  voice. 

Jessie  lifted  her  hands  from  the  keys  of  the  piano, 
and  said :  "  I  should  be  a  very  poor  substitute  for  you. 
They  would  feel  the  contrast,  and  that  would  be  humili 
ating  for  me."  Then  the  white  fingers  went  back  upon 
the  keys,  and  another  spirited  waltz  began. 

"  Now  you  are  fishing  for  a  compliment."  But 
where,  oh!  where  is  mamma ?"  she  added.  "  I  must 
go  and  hunt  her  up."  And  she  flitted  out  of  the  room, 
soon  returning  with  her  mother. 

"  Only  think !  I  found  her  upstairs,  contemplating 
the  wedding  dress  with  tears  in  her  eyes."  The  mother 
looked  at  her  daughter  with  a  faint,  sad  smile.  "Now 
it  passes  my  comprehension,"  continued  Nettie,  "  how 
any  one  can  cry  over  so  lovely  a  dress.  I  have  really 
been  compelled  to  put  it  out  of  sight  because  it  filled 
my  soul  v/ith  such  delight ;  I'm  afraid  I  shall  never  be 


REDBANK.  '2(i7 

able  to  keep  my  face  straight   when  I  get  it  on,  I  shall 
be  so  very,  very  happy." 

"  My  daughter,  you  are  very  full  of  nonsense,"  said 
Mr.  Hunter,  shaking  his  head  at  her. 

"  Well,  you  know  to-night  is  the  ciisis  of  the  disease  ; 
to-morrow,  about  this  time,  I  shall  be  on  the  road  to 
recovery — I  shall  be  Mrs.  Sage.  In  a  month,  I  shall 
be  so  sober  you  will  not  recognize  me.  Then  you  will 
long  to  have  your  silly  little  daughter  back  again. 
Alas  !  that  human  nature,  even  when  it  wears  a  surplice, 
should  be  so  inconsistent !  "  She  rushed  up  to  her 
father,  and  kissed  him  several  times.  Mr.  Sage  looked 
at  her  much  amused ;  she  was  bewitchingly  pretty ;  her 
blonde  hair  was  a  maze  of  crimps  around  her  small  deli 
cate  face,  and  her  blue  eyes  were  dancing  with  fun  and 
mischief. 

"  Do  you  take  me  for  Bluebeard  ?  "  he  asked  very 
quietly,  looking  at  her  and  smiling. 

"  Not  the  genuine  old  monster  ;  he  died  long  ago  and 
was  buried  with  proper  ceremony.  You  are  only  one  of 
his  descendants,  modified  and  refined  by  time  and  prog 
ress."  Every  one  laughed.  How  was  it  possible  to 
keep  one's  face  sober  in  her  presence  ? 

"  Stop  your  chatter,  my  dear,  and  listen  to  Jessie's 
music,"  said  Mr.  Hunter. 

"  I  cannot ;  waltz  music  is  like  champagne  ;  it  always 
makes  me  talk." 

"  Please  play  something  solemn,  Jessie,"  requested 
Mrs.  Hunter ;  "  Nettie's  high  spirits  jar  upon  me  to 
night," 

Jessie  Holcombe  struck  a  few  deep  chords,  and  began 
the  Moonlight  Sonata.  Every  one  was  silent  until  she 
reached  the  end,  and  the  last  tones  died  away.  Then 


268  REDBANR. 

Miss  Hunter  turned  to  Mr.  Sage  with  the  question, 
"  Don't  you  wish  I  could  play  like  that  ?  " 

"  I  love  you  well  enough  just  as  you  are,"  he  replied. 
She  got  up,  put  her  hand  in  his,  and  carried  him  off  into 
the  next  room. 

"  You  must  not  stop,  Jessie,"  said  Mr.  Hunter  ;  "  it 
is  very  restful  to  listen  to  you,  dear.  I  am  too  tired 
and  sad  to  talk  to-night.  I  am  just  in  the  mood  to  ap 
preciate  music."  He  lay  back  in  his  chair,  and  mur 
mured  to  himself — 

"  Music  that  gentler  on  the  spirit  lies, 
Than  tired  eye-lids  upon  tired  eyes." 


17 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

"  And  therefore,  if  to  love  can  be  desert,  I  am  not  all  unworthy." 

A  FEW  hours  later,  Jessie  Holcombe  and  Nettie  Hun 
ter  were  sitting  in'  their  dressing-gowns  before  a  beau 
tiful  fire.  They  had  extinguished  the  gas,  and  only  the 
glow  of  the  fire-light  filled  the  room.  It  would  have 
been  difficult  to  find  a  greater  contrast  than  these  two 
girls  presented  as  they  sat  upon  the  rug,  brushing  out 
their  long  soft  hair.  The  face  of  Jessie  Holdombe  was 
as  finely  cut  as  an  antique  gem.  The  dark  brown  eyes 
were  somewhat  sad  and  dreamy  ;  the  brown  hair  which 
she  was  brushing  fell  over  her  shoulders  in  heavy 
masses,  rippling  and  curling  to  its  very  ends. 

The  face  of  Nettie  Hunter  was  fair  and  piquante  and 
altogether  bewitching  from-  the  play  of  smiles  and  dim 
ples  around  a  rosy  mouth  and  clear  blue  eyes.  Her 
hair  was  of  that  pale  blonde  shade  which  we  often  see 
on  French  dolls.  It  was  naturally  straight,  but,  by 
means  of  crimping  pins  and  curling  irons,  it  was  made 
exquisitely  fluffy,  and  formed  a  kind  of  halo  around  her 
small  head.  The  friends  might  have  sat  to  an  artist  as 
modern  types  of  the  Madonna  and  the  Magdalen. 

"  Now,  Jessie,  I've  ever  so  much  to  tell  you,"  said 
Nettie.  "  I  must  really  relieve  myself  by  full  confes 
sion  before  the  dread  to-morrow  comes," — and  she  gave 
a  little  gasp. 

"  Very   well ;  make   a   clean   breast   of   it,"  replied 


270  REDBANK. 

Jessie,  trying  very  bard  not  to  laugh.  "  I  am  prepared 
to  listen,  if  not  to  pronounce  absolution.  Go  on." 

"  Well,"  continued  tbe  pretty  penitent,  "  I  will  be 
gin  with  the  general  confession — I've  been  a  miserable 
sinner — I  have  flirted  awfully.  It  has  seemed  such  fun 
to  carry  on  with  gentlemen,  bringing  them  by  slow  de 
grees  to  the  point  of  making  a  declaration,  then  accept 
ing  the  ring,  and  all  the  other  gifts  and  attentions  of  a 
fiancee,  and  after  due  time,  breaking  off  everything  and 
settling  up  accounts.  Now,  I  know  .you  feel  disgusted 
with  me,  Jessie.  The  truth  is,  I'm  a  little  disgusted 
with  myself,  how  it  is  all  over ;  but  I-  do  insist  there 
were  lots  of  fun  in  it  at  the  time.  Sober  damsels  like 
you,  Jessie,  don't  get  much  amusement  out  of  maiden 
hood  ;  it  is  the  miserable  sinners  like  me  who  drain  the 
honeyed  cup  to  the  bottom."  Here  she  laughed  a 
wicked  little  laugh,  and  exclaimed,  "  Don't  be  shocked, 
dear  ;  I  don't  believe  after  all  that  I  am  quite  so  bad  as 
I  seem  to  be.  But  let  me  go  on  with  my  confession. 
Well,  papa  used  to  lecture  me  and  so  did  mamma  about 
my  awful  levity,  but  somehow  I  could  not  stop  flirting. 
Life  didn't  seem  worth  living  without  the  excitement. 
The  truth  is,  I  didn't  have  anything  else  to  do,  and  one 
must  fill  up  the  hours  with  something?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Jessie,  laughing ;  "  you  know  the  old 
couplet  about  Satan  finding  some  mischief  for  idle  hands 
to  do." 

"Then,  if  idleness  is  so  dangerous,  why  don't  girls 
have  something  to  do  after  they  leave  school  ?  "  asked 
Nettie.  ';  Dressing  and  making  calls  and  going  to  parties 
— that's  all  they  have  to  occupy  them  from  year's  end  to 
year's  end ;  as  if  their  overflowing  energies  could  be 
used  up  in  that  way !  Well,  Jessie,  one  day  last  sum 
mer,  after  the  violent  rupture  of  an  engagement  of  only 


REDBANK.  Til     ' 

a  month,  papa  sent  for  me  into  his  study,  and  gave  me 
a  regular  '  setting  down,'  as  he  called  it.  He  told  me 
emphatically  that  I  was  never  again  to  engage  myself 
to  a  man  without  intending  to  marry  him.  '  Under 
stand  me  now,'  he  said,  very  sternly,  even  omitting  to 
call  me,  dear,  '  the  next  time  you  engage  yourself,  you 
shall  marry  the  man,  whether  you  really  love  him  or 
not.  I  tell  you  this  seriously,  so  you  must  take  care. 
Even  at  the  risk  of  forcing  an  odious  marriage  upon 
you,  I  shall  keep  my  word.'  Rather  cruel  language 
from  a  father,  wasn't  it  ?  After  that,  I  was  very  care 
ful  for  a  time.  I  became  as  demure  as  a  pussy  cat,  and 
all  the  gentlemen  began  to  wonder  what  had  come  over 
me.  Some  thought  I  was  under  conviction  for  my  sins, 
and  some  thought  that  I  was  going  into  a  decline. 
Just  then  Mr.  Sage  dropped  down  upon  us.  All  the 
girls  were  in  a  flutter  as  soon  as  he  appeared,  and,  Jes 
sie,  seriously  I  tell  you,  I  was  disgusted  at  the  way  they 
acted.  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  disappoint 
the  whole  crowd  by  taking  him  myself.  I  began  very 
demurely,  and  watched  him  with  interest  as  he  ap 
proached  nearer  and  nearer.  Soon  I  really  began  to 
like  him,  for  he  is  very  handsome,  and  has  fine  manners 
and  good  sense,  and  has  seen  much  of  the  world.  By 
the  time  he  proposed,  I  was  a  little  unsettled  myself, 
and  it  has  been  growing  steadily  ever  since  ;  and  now  I 
tell  you  truly,  Jessie,  I  love  him  to  the  point  of  distrac 
tion.  He  seems  to  understand  me,  and  knows  how  to 
get  along  with  me  better  than  either  papa  or  mamma  ; 
and  I  think  he  appreciates  my  good  qualities  (here  she 
indulged  in  a  mocking  little  laugh),  and  really  believes 
there  is  something  to  me.  Now,  this  is  serious,  for  I'm 
afraid  he  is  deceived  there.  Jessie,  I  sometimes  doubt 
whether  there  is  anything  at  all  to  me.  I  am  nothing 


272  BEDBANK. 

more  than  a  glass  of  syllabub,  and  it  actually  frightens 
me  to  think  that  Clarence  may  some  day  awaken  to  the 
shallowness  of  my  nature.  What  shall  I  do,  dear,  if  he 
does?" 

Jessie  smiled ;  she  could  not  help  it.  There  was  a 
comic  element  even  in  Nettie's  sober  and  solemn  con 
fessions. 

"  Wait  till  the  time  comes,  and  then  you  will  be 
clever  enough  for  the  occasion,"  said  Jessie. 

"  No,  I  won't ;  I  feel  as  if  my  sins  had  found  me  out 
at  last.  I  have  made  a  jest  of  hearts,  and  now  mine 
may  have  to  suffer.  Besides,  I  have  not  had  the  courage 
to  tell  him  anything  about  all  those  miserable  old 
engagements.  How  could  I  ?  " 

"  Well,  he  has  probably  heard  enough  about  you 
to  know  that  you  have  not  been  a  model  of  propriety," 
said  Jessie.  "  Perhaps  he  will  feel  flattered  to  count  up 
your  victims.  It  is  like  slaying  a  man-eating  tiger.  He 
will  be  proud  of  the  feat." 

They  both  laughed. 

"  You  are  making  fun  of  me,  Jessie.  Please,  don't  do 
that,  for  I  am  really  in  earnest.  I  am  dreadfully  afraid 
that  Clarence  will  find  out  everything,  and  will  be 
angry  with  me,  and  not  love  me  any  more.  I  know  he 
has  not  heard  about  my  evil  doings,  for  he  despises 
gossip,  and  would  not  listen  to  it.  Besides,  he  holds 
very  absurd  ideas  about  the  clergy  and — their  daughters ! 
I  have  recently  found  out  that  he  is  severely  orthodox 
on  this  point,  and  it  frightens  me  almost  to  death.  "  It 
would  break  my  poor  little  heart !  "  She  laid  her  hand 
upon  her  breast  with  a  pretty  gesture  which  left  one 
in  doubt  whether  she  were  in  earnest  or  not.  "  Jessie," 
she  continued,  after  a  while,  "  there  are  ever  so 
many  boys  in  town  who  have  love-letters  from  me.  Ben 


REDBANK.  273 

Thornton  actually  told  me  when  I  broke  off  my  engage 
ment  with  him,  '  Never  mind,  I'll  make  you  pay  for  it; 
I'll  keep  your  love-letters,  and  send  them  as  a  wedding- 
present  to  your  husband.'  Do  you  think  lie  will, 
Jessie  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not.  Mr.  Thornton  is  a  gentleman,  and, 
though  he  might  utter  such  a  threat  in  a  moment  of 
anger,  he  is  too  honorable  to  carry  it  out." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Nettie,  shaking  her 
head  doubtfully ;  "  he  was  dreadfully  angry  with  me, 
and  he  has  never  spoken  to  me  since.  Somehow  I  am 
afraid  of  him." 

The  brushes  went  slowly  through  the  shining  locks, 
and  there  was  silence  for  a  time. 

"  Jessie,"  exclaimed  the  pretty  penitent,  "  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  it  scares  me  to  think  of  taking  a  man's 
happiness  into  my  keeping.  What  if  I  should  not  sat 
isfy  him  ?  What  if  he  should  regret  his  choice  when 
it  was  too  late,  and  I  should  find  it  out  ?  How  terrible 
it  would  be  !  I  don't  know  how  I  could  go  on  living." 

"  I  don't  believe  that  you  will  ever  make  any  discovery 
of  that  kind,"  said  Jessie,  surprised  beyond  measure  to 
find  that  such  serious  thoughts  were  agitating  the  bosom 
of  her  friend.  "  Mr.  Sage  is  very  much  in  love  with 
you,  and  I'm  sure  he  will  not  criticise  you  severely.  I 
daresay  he  will  think  everything  you  say  and  do  exactly 
right." 

"  I  hope  so  with  all  my  heart.  I  shall  try  my  best 
always  to  keep  up  the  illusion.  He  is  very  kind  and 
patient  and  good-tempered.  That  is  better  than  genius 
-isn't  it  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  replied  Jessie  ;  "  at  least,  it  is  a  safer 
quality  in  a  husband." 

"  Oh  !  yes  ;  Clarence  is  all  right,"  exclaimed  Nettie  ; 


274  REDBANK. 

"  I'm  not  in  any  doubt  about  him — he  has  virtues  enough 
for  a  dozen  men ;  but  I  am  afraid  of  myself — honestly 
and  truly  I  am,  Jessie.  I  have  never  meant  to  be  quite 
as  frivolous  as  I  have  always  been,  but  it  is  like  rolling 
a  stone  downhill — once  get  it  started,  and  there  is  no 
stopping  it.  So  it  is  with  me.  I  have  generally  begun 
by  being  a  little  saucy  and  mischievous — you  know  I 
couldn't  help  that ;  it's  my  very  nature,  probably  inher 
ited  from  some  great-great-aunt,  or  great-grandmother ; 
then,  as  a  man  gets  a  little  interested  in  one,  the  game 
becomes  very  absorbing.  It  is  like  cards,  or  anything 
else  where  delicate  skill  is  combined  with  chance.  Often 
a  lucky  meeting  would  favor  the  continuance  of  matters, 
or  a  neat  little  speech  or  gesture  would  entice  the  victim 
a  little  farther.  Yes,  it  was  the  stone  going  downhill — 
I  could  not  stop  it.  Now,  the  feeling  often  comes  over 
me,  shall  I  be  able  to  stop  it  after  I  am  married  ?  I'm 
really  in  doubt  about  myself.  What  do  you  think  of  it, 
Jessie  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Nettie.  It  is  like  asking  my  opinion 
about  the  climate  of  Mercury  or  Mars.  My  experience 
in  love  affairs  has  been  very  limited.  You  are  more 
capable  than  I  am  of  pronouncing  upon  your  own  case. 
Coquetry  may  become  a  dangerous  habit,  I  suppose, 
like  drinking  or  opium-eating.  There  is  but  one  way 
to  overcome  such  habits — that  is,  to  struggle  continually 
against  them." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  and  yet  I  don't  know.  I  have  heard 
all  that  about  fighting  one's  faults  so  often  that  it  sounds 
very  old  and  familiar,  but  I  don't  understand  it  in  the 
least.  I  have  no  idea  how  to  begin  a  struggle  with  my 
self.  I  can  struggle  with  anybody  else  in  the  world ; 
but,  when  I  want  to  do  anything,  it  does  not  seem  possi 
ble  for  me  to  combat  the  wish  myself." 


REDBANK.  275 

"  Then  let  us  hope  that  your  husband  may  be  strong 
enough  to  struggle  with  you,  when  your  wishes  are 
wrong,"  said  Jessie,  smiling. 

She  Could  not  believe  that  her  friend  was  more  than 
half  in  earnest  in  what  she  was  saying. 

u  Mr.  Sage  looks  as  if  he  had  a  very  strong  will,  and, 
if  that  is  the  case,  you  will  soon  learn  to  submit  to  his 
guidance.  It  is  a  comfortable  thought  that  you  have 
more  confidence  in  him  than  you  have  in  yourself." 

"  Yes,  it  is.  Though  I  am  such  a  tipsy  little  craft,  I 
do  believe  that  I  have  cast  anchor  in  good  solid  ground. 
Jessie,"  she  exclaimed,  after  a  short  pause,  "  I  have 
really  been  a  kind  of  Undine — a  merry,  sportive,  soul 
less  creature.  Love  has  awakened  me  to  a  higher  ideal 
of  life.  There  is  the  growth  of  something  new  within 
me — the  budding  of  a  soul,  perhaps."  She  laughed 
lightly,  though  her  words  were  serious  enough.  "  But 
I'm  not  half  as  happy  as  I  used  to  be  in  the  old  days. 
The  something  new  which  has  been  born  within  me  often 
makes  me  very  uncomfortable.  I  suppose  it  is  the  con 
science,  which,  you  know,  Shakespeare  says  '  makes 
cowards  of  us  all.'  "  And  she  laughed  again. 

"  Nettie,  if  I  were  in  your  place,"  said  Jessie,  "  I  would 
tell  Mr.  Sage  candidly  about  all  the  past  flirtations,  the 
engagements,  the  love-letters,  and  everything  else.  Con 
fess  to  him  that  you  have  been  a  dreadful  little  coquette. 
It  may  cost  you  a  little  effort,  and  it  may  shock  him 
somewhat,  but  in  the  end  it  will  be  best." 

"  I  can  never,  never  do  it,"  exclaimed  Nettie,  with  a 
little  gasp. 

"  But  you  will  be  ever  so  much  more  comfortable 
yourself.  You  acknowledge  that  you  have  a  vague  dread 
of  revelations  that  may  reach  him  in  the  course  of  time." 

"  I  have  ! "  she    cried,  with  a  half-comic,  half-tragic 


276  EEDBANK. 

expression ;    "  they  are   like  horrible   phantoms    which 
murder  sleep."     Jessie  laughed. 

"  I  don't  believe  Mr.  Sage  will  be  very  severe  with 
you.  He  knows  that  you  are  a  light-headed,  light- 
hearted  little  creature,  rather  reckless  in  manner  and 
conversation.  He  loves  you  just  as  you  are,  and  will 
see  that  the  fondness  for  flirtation  is  something  which 
you  will  outgrow  when  life  becomes  more  serious.  He 
will  pardon  levity  more  readily  than  deception." 

"  But  I  have  no  intention  of  deceiving  him.  I  shall 
simply  be  mum.  My  past  does  not  belong  to  him.  I 
suppose  my  future  does — heigh-ho !  But  what  right 
has  he  to  go  poking  in  the  ashes  of  bygone  years  ?  " 

"  No  right,  perhaps,  but,  loving  you  as  he  does,  every 
moment  of  your  life  possesses  an  interest  for  him," 
replied  Jessie.  "  He  will  inevitably  hear  more  or  less 
from  others.  Chance  words  dropped  in  his  presence 
may  excite  hiscuriosity.  Anticipate  such  revelations  by 
telling  him  frankly  that  you  have  been  a  little  sinner 
Such  a  confession  will  strengthen  his  confidence." 

"  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  do  it,"  exclaimed 
Nettie  Hunter.  Soon  she  shook  her  head.  "  No,  I  can 
not.  The  very  thought  of  it  makes  me  feel  old  and 
ugly.  Jessie,  one  reason  why  I  have  always  been  so  gay 
is  because  I  have  taken  life  easy,  and  have  shirked  dis 
agreeable  things.  I  am  going  to  keep  it  up  if  I  can." 

"  I'm  afraid  after  a  while  you  will  have  to  abandon 
that  smooth  and  flowery  road,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  most  peo 
ple  have  to  climb  a  hill  sometimes." 

"  I  know  it ;  and  I  have  a  vague  prevision  that  some 
very  steep  and  stony  ones  lie  before  me."  Her  face 
assumed  a  pensive  expression.  She  had  brushed  out 
the  crimps  from  her  hair,  and,  drawing  it  down  smooth 
over  her  ears,  she  twisted  the  mass  into  a  small  coil  low 


REDBANK.  277 

down  on  the  neck.  Jessie  scarcely  recognized  the  little 
face;  it  looked  plain  and  demure.  Nettie  caught  a 
glimpse  of  it  in  the  long  looking-glass  over  the  mantel 
piece,  and  broke  into  a  peal  of  laughter.  How  could  she 
help  it?  There  was  something  irresistibly  comical  in 
her  new  expression. 

"  Jessie,"  she  exclaimed,  "  I  shall  comb  my  hair  just 
so  when  I  go  to  the  confessional ;  and  I  shall  put  on 
one  of  mamma's  plainest  black  dresses — the  melancholy 
alpaca  that  she  always  wears  to  funerals.  Then  I  shall 
fall  upon  my  knees  at  Clarence's  feet,  and  pour  out  the 
whole  story  of  my  folly.  Don't  you  think  he  will  be 
too  much  touched  to  be  angry  ?  "  And  the  suppressed 
laughter  came  in  little  bubbles,  as  she  buried  her  face  in 
her  hands. 

Jessie  joined  in  the  laugh ;  she  was  too  young  and 
gay  herself  to  be  very  serious  with  this  charming  little 
sinner.  Human  nature  is  very  much  like  chemistry ; 
each  individual  is  a  compound  of  good  and  bad  qualities, 
mixed  in  proper  proportions  according  to  some  unknown 
law  of  heredity.  We  do  not  expect  to  find  the  same 
chemical  characteristics  in  chloride  of  sodium  and  sul 
phurated  hydrogen.  Then  why  should  we  be  surprised 
that  human  beings  differ  so  widely  from  each  other? 
Why  should  we  expect  to  find  in  every  one  the  ele 
ments  of  character  which  we  are  conscious  of  possessing 
ourselves  ?  Why  should  we  feel  annoyed  to  detect 
qualities  wholly  different  from  anything  which  our 
inner  consciousness  reveals  to  us  as  existing  within 
ourselves  ?  What  we  do  not  admire  may  be  wholly 
admirable.  What  we  do  not  love  may  be  perfectly 
lovable.  What  we  do  not  understand  may  have  its 
noble  uses  in  God's  great  universe.  In  her  estimate  of 
others,  some  sentiment  of  this  kind  was  permanently 


278 

present  in  Jessie  Holcombe's  heart,  making  her  very 
broadly  sympathetic.  And  so  it  was  that  her  sponta 
neous  laughter  now  mingled  with  Nettie's.  At  length, 
the  latter  looked  up  and  said  in  her  clear,  incisive  voice  : 

u  Now,  I  know  you  have  lost  all  hope  of  me.  You 
must  think  me  desperately  wicked  to  laugh  over  such  a 
serious  matter." 

"  Indeed  I  don't ,  you  did  look  very  droll ;  I  could 
not  help  laughing  myself." 

"  Then  you  don't  think  it  a  sign  of  total  depravity 
to  go  through  life  laughing  instead  of  crying?"  asked 
Nettie. 

"  No  ;  I  rather  envy  those  who  can  laugh.  I  wish  I 
were  not  so  serious  myself.  Your  sunny  temperament 
is  a  rich  dowiy,  my  dear." 

"  Jessie,"  said  the  girl,  "  I  tell  you  honestly  and  truly, 
I  cannot  help  being  what  I  am.  Remembering  papa's 
profession,  I  have  often  tried  to  be  prim  and  proper,  but 
there  is  a  very  fountain  of  mirth  within  me.  The  water 
is  bubbling  up  all  the  time  ;  I  cannot  stop  it.  I  really 
do  want  to  do  right,  but  my  spirits  run  away  with  me. 
Perhaps  age  and  sorrow  will  change  me." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  her  friend ;  "  if  you  were  changed, 
you  would  no  longer  be  yourself.  I  like  you  as  you 
are." 

"  Jessie,  dear,  I  have  been  in  earnest  to-night  in  all 
that  I  have  said  to  you.  I  do  want  to  be  less  frivolous 
— indeed  I  do." 

"  Have  you  ever  talked  with  your  mother  about  it, 
and  asked  her  to  help  you  ?  " 

"Never!  never!"  exclaimed  Nettie;  "it  wouM 
only  fill  her  dear  heart  with  anxiety ;  she  would  imme 
diately  think  that  I  was  going  to  die,  if  I  began  to  talk 
anything  but  the  very  absurdest  nonsense.  No,  I  would 


REDBANK.  279 

never  go  to  her  with  any  confessions.  I  had  rather  go 
to  papa,  but  he  isn't  a  woman,  you  know,  and  might 
be  perplexed;  he  is  easily  perplexed,  dear  man.  No, 
Jessie,  I  will  stick  it  out,  and  seek  no  confidant  but  you. 
After  I  am  married  I  will  understand  Clarence  better, 
and  then  I  can  judge  whether  he  will  care  or  not  about 
my  wicked  little  doings  in  the  past.  He  may  be  much 
more  interested  in  the  science  of  banking,  and  hold  my 
affairs  in  supreme  indifference.  One  thing  is  certain — 
I  shall  never  tell  him  a  real  black  lie.  I  might  tell 
a  white  one,  or  a  gray  one,  but  a  real  black  one — Never  ! 
I  would  not  do  it  to  escape  hanging." 

Just  then  the  tiny  clock  upon  the  mantel-piece  struck 
one. 

"  We  ought  not  to  sit  up  any  longer,"  said  Jessie ; 
"  to-morrow  will  be  a  very  tiresome  day  for  you." 

"  I  know  it,  dear,"  and  again  she  gave  a  little  gasp. 
"  I  would  like  to  escape  from  it,  if  I  only  could.  I've 
a  great  mind  to  run  away,  Jessie.  I  never  thought 
myself  capable  of  feeling  as  I  do  to-night.  The  trous 
seau  isn't  a  bit  of  comfort.  I  am  sorry  for  mamma, 
sorry  for  papa,  sorry  not  to  have  made  them  more  happy 
— and  worst  of  all,  I'm  sorry  that  the  beautiful,  bright 
girlhood  is  forever  over." 

She  burst  into  a  hysterical  laugh,  as  she  bounded  into 
the  bed,  and  buried  her  head  in  the  pillow. 

The  next  evening,  promptly  at  eight  o'clock,  the 
bridal  procession  walked  up  the  aisle  of  St.  Luke's 
Church,  and  the  good  Bishop  tied  the  nuptial  knot. 
Immediately  after  the  ceremony,  a  large  reception  fol 
lowed  at  the  residence  of  the  bride.  Everybody  of 
fashion — everybody  of  respectability,  was  present.  The 
parlors  were  so  thronged  that  the  most  intimate  friends 


280  REDBANR. 

jostled  against  each  other  without  recognition  on  either 
side. 

Finally,  when  the  bride  had  departed,  when  the  crowd 
had  freely  partaken  of  refreshments,  and  were  slipping 
quietly  away,  Jessie  Holcombe  attempted  to  cross  the 
hall  in  the  hope  of  getting  upstairs.  She  was  very 
tired  and  longed  to  escape  from  the  noise  and  confusion 
and  ceaseless  chatter.  She  unexpectedly  encountered 
a  gentleman  who  showed  an  inclination  to  detain  her. 

"  Good-evening,  Miss  Holcombe.  I  have  been  trying 
for  hours  to  get  near  enough  to  speak  to  you,  but  the 
Fates  have  not  been  propitious." 

"  Good-evening,  Mr.  Brooks ;  I  did  not  know  that 
you  were  here.  I  hope  you  have  enjoyed  it." 

"  It  is  worse  than  a  London  ball  in  the  height  of  the 
season.  Miss  Hunter  has  certainly  given  everybody  an 
opportunity  to  see  her  and  offer  congratulations." 

"  Yes,  you  know  how  kind-hearted  she  is.  She  did 
not  want  to  slight  any  one." 

"  It  has  been  a  crushing  affair.  If  all  these  people 
are  her  friends,  she  has  a  good  many  more  than  the 
conventional  five  hundred.  But  you  look  tired.  Can 
we  not  find  a  quiet  place  where  we  can  sit  down  ?  I 
want  to  talk  with  you  a  few  moments.  Suppose  we 
come  in  here  ?  "  And  he  moved  towards  a  half-open 
door  at  the  end  of  the  hall. 

They  found  themselves  in  the  dining-room  ;  the  tables 
were  cleared,  the  servants  were  gone,  and  the  lights 
were  turned  down.  Several  weeks  had  passed  since 
these  two  had  met.  They  both  recalled  it  now  ;  it  was 
a  spot  of  burning  consciousness  in  the  memory  of  each ; 
that  evening  when  his  eyes  had  flashed  the  passionate 
message  from  his  heart. 

"  What  had  he  to  say  to  her  at  this  late  day  ?  "  she 


KEDBANK.  281 

sternly  demanded  of  herself.  She  -was  a  woman  and 
could  not  put  the  question  to  him,  but  her  manner  was 
cold  and  haughty.  If  it  had  been  possible,  she  would 
have  broken  away  from  him,  but  she  did  not  wish  to  be 
rude,  and  she  could  not  well  decline  to  speak  to  him, 
since  he  was  a  guest  of  the  house. 

"  Miss  Holcombe,"  he  said,  "  I  am  going  away — I 
want  to  say  good-bye  to  you." 

She  extended  her  hand — "  Good-bye." 

"  But  I  am  not  going  just  yet.  Can  you  not  spare 
me  a  few  minutes  of  your  time  ?  May  I  not  sit  down 
and  rest  a  little  while  ?  "  He  seemed  to  be  pained  by 
her  coldness. 

"  Excuse  me,"  she  said,  "  you  look  so  hurried  that 
I  thought  you  wanted  to  catch  the  next  train." 

They  both  laughed.  "  Not  so  bad  as  that,"  he  re 
plied  ;  "  I  am  soriy  to  have  a  hurried,  hunted  manner, 
but  I  have  been  terribly  driven  of  late.  I  have  been 
attending  to  some  business  for  my  father,  and  have  felt 
in  a  perfect  fever  to  get  through  with  it.  But,  Miss 
Holcombe,  have  you  no  curiosity  to  know  where  I  am 
going?" 

"  To  Europe,  is  it  ?  "  she  asked,  feeling  her  own  heart 
sink  as  she  put  the  question. 

"  Not  quite  so  far  as  that ;   only  to  New  York." 

"  A  journey  to  New  York !  How  pleasant  that 
sounds  ! " 

"  Does  it  ?  Now  to  me  it  sounds  very  unpleasant 
just  at  this  time ;  but  I  hope  something  pleasant  may 
.come  of  it.  You  think  you  would  like  it  for  yourself?  " 

"  Indeed  I  would.  I  often  long  to  break  away  from 
everything,  and  fly  off  in  an  aimless  tangent.  I  have 
not  thought  much  of  an  ultimate  stopping-place,  but 
New  York  might  answer.  It  seems  remote  enough." 


282  EEUBANK. 

"  You  have  never  been  there  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  Mr.  Brooks,  my  knowledge  of  geography  is 
exceedingly  limited.  I  hope  your  own  journey  may  be 
pleasant  and  successful." 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said ;  "  your  good  wishes  will 
insure  me  against  all  misfortune." 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  to  rely  for  safety  upon  my 
good  wishes,"  she  replied,  laughing  lightly.  "  It  would 
be  better  to  get  out  an  accident  policy,  wouldn't  it  ?  " 

"  That  would  argue  that  my  life  is  worth  something 
to  somebody  else.  I  am  sorry  not  to  have  that  flatter 
ing  assurance.  Your  good  wishes,  Miss  Holcombe, 
make  it  worth  something  to  myself."  After  a  short 
pause,  he  added,  "  I  hope  you  will  miss  me  a  little." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall ;  I  cannot  tell  until  you  are  gone." 

"  And  if  you  should  find  it  out  after  I  am  gone,  how 
am  I  to  know  ?  Do  you  think  you  could  write  a  little 
note  and  tell  me  ?  " 

"  That  would  scarcely  be  proper.  A  young  lady 
must  never  violate  the  conventionalities,  even  to  serve 
a  friend." 

"  But  if  I  wrote  first,  then  the  conventionalities 
would  not  be  violated." 

"  But  you  will  not  do  that,  Mr.  Brooks." 

"  Why  ?  "  he  asked.     "  Do  you  doubt  my  courage  T  " 

"  No,  I  know  that  you  are  very  bold,  but  I  do  not 
think  you  are  bold  enough  to  offend  a  lady."  She  was 
looking  down  at  the  withered  bouquet  she  held  in  her 
hands.  Unconsciously  she  was  pulling  the  flowers  to 
pieces. 

"  And  why  should  she  be  offended  ?  " 

"  Because"  she  answered  emphatically  ;  then  added, 
"  Mr.  Brooks,  you  have  no  right  to  expect  a  more  satis 
factory  reason  from,  a.  woman." 


ItEDBANK.  283 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  clear,  cold,  fearless  gaze. 
It  seemed  to  her  that  he  was  trifling,  and  she  longed 
to  put  an  end  to  the  interview. 

"•  But,  Miss  Holcombe,  I  do  not  see  why  a  letter 
should  offend  a  lady,  if  it  be  written  in  a  tone  of 
admiration  and  respect." 

"  That  depends  on  a  great  many  other  things.  There 
are  times,  Mr.  Brooks,  when  silence  is  much  more 
effective  than  speech."  Her  words  had  a  sharp, 
incisive  ring  that  he  understood. 

"  You  are  right,  he  said ;  "  the  hypothetical  letter 
shall  not  be  written ;  indeed  there  would  be  no  occasion 
for  writing  it,  if  you  would  only  say  that  you  will  miss 
me  a  little.  Surely  you  remember  all  the  pleasant  rides 
and  walks." 

"  Yes  ;  but  they  may  possibly  be  continued  under 
another  escort,"  she  replied,  smiling  without  pity. 

"  Now,  that  is  a  cruel  blow  to  my  self-love." 

"  I  think  you  will  survive  it,"  she  said,  and  her  laugh 
sounded  almost  wicked. 

u  I  do  not  know  about  that ;  I  feel  rather  weak  and 
tired  to-night — quite  unable  to  parry  thrusts  of  any 
kind.  The  truth  is  my  father  has  not  been  well  of 
late,  and  I  have  been  trying  to  assist  him  in  getting 
through  with  some  pressing  business.  I  have  been 
amazed  to  see  the  amount  of  work  that  he  does." 

"  Don't  you  feel  a  little  remorseful  to  go  away  and 
leave  him  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Sometimes,  perhaps,"  he  replied,  hesitating  a  mo 
ment  ;  "  but  I  assure  you  I  cannot  help  it.  I  wish  you 
would  believe  that  something  beckons  "me  to  arise,  and 
go  out  of  the  old  country  into  the  new.  Even  my 
father  now  feels  that  it  is  altogether  best.  You  must 
have  a  little  confidence  in  my  judgment,  Miss  Holcombe." 


284  BEDBANI?. 

She  smiled.  "  I  have  so  much  in  the  father's  that  it 
is  hard  to  have  any  in  the  son's,  when  the  two  are 
opposed." 

"  And  cannot  you  believe  that  I  have  inherited  some 
of  his  good  qualities  ?  " 

"  I  will  try,"  she  said,  very  simply  ;  "  it  is  pleasant  to 
think  well  of  every  one." 

"  I  am  sorry  it  should  cost  you  such  an  effort  to  think 
well  of  me."  He  tried  to  speak  carelessly,  but  there 
was  a  passionate  vibration  in  his  tone  which  her  ear 
detected.  She  did  not  dare  to  look  up,  knowing  that 
his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  her,  and  feeling  that  the  safety 
of  both  depended  upon  her  own  coldness  and  self- 
control.  She  was  very  lovely,  as  she  sat  there,  beside 
him  in  the  dim  light.  Her  dress  fell  around  her  like  a 
soft  white  cloud,  leaving  only  the  beautiful  face  and 
arms  and  bust  unveiled.  Her  lap  was  filled  with  the 
faded  flowers  that  she  had  been  pulling  to  pieces. 
Presently  he  said : 

"  There,  leave  that  one  for  me  ;  you  have  plucked  the 
heart  out  of  all  the  rest ;  spare  that  one." 

And  as  he  spoke,  he  extended  his  hand.  But  she 
only  shook  her  head. 

"  No  ;  I  must  keep  this  one  as  a  souvenir  of  Nettie's 
wedding  ;  it  is  a  pale-eyed  forget-me-not." 

"  That  is  whyt  I  would  like  it.  Can  you  not  give  it 
to  me  ? "  His  voice  was  full  of  tender  pleading,  but 
she  hardened  her  heart,  and  answered,  "  No."  He  did 
not  wonder  that  she  was  cold  and  cruel.  What  right 
had  he  to  detain  her,  unless  he  meant  to  tell  her  all  that 
was  in  his  heart  ?  More  than  once  words  of  burning 
passion  rose  to  his  lips,  but  they  remained  unspoken. 
He  remembered  the  promise  given  to  his  father — lie  must 

wait.     He  must  go  away  and  leave  her  to  doubt  his  truth 

18 


EEDBANK.  285 

and  honor.  Since  it  was  so,  there  was  no  use  in  detain 
ing  her  any  longer.  He  arose  from  his  seat. 

"  Miss  Holcombe,  you  look  very  tired ;  forgive  me 
for  keeping  you  so  long.  Alice  wished  me  to  give,  you 
a  message.  She  wants  to  see  you  before  you  return  to 
Iledbank.  Can  you  not  go  and  see  her  to-morrow  after 
noon  ?  She  is  at  my  father's." 

"  I  will  try,  but  I'm  afraid  that  I  shall  be  very  busy 
to-morrow.  I  have  promised  Mrs.  Hunter  to  assist  her 
in  putting  things  in  order.  You  can  guess  what  a  task 
that  will  be." 

"  Well,  at  least  I  have  delivered  the  message,"  he  said, 
smiling;  "you  must  not  allow  Alice  to  accuse  me  of 
forgetfulness.  I  shall  not  be  on  hand  to  defend  myself." 

"  When  do'  you  leave,  Mr.  Brooks  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  To-morrow  morning  at  seven  o'clock.  Good-bye." 
He  extended  his  hand  coldly,  as  if  it  were  only  an  ordi 
nary  parting. 

"  Good-bye ! "  she  echoed,  in  a  low  tone.  For  a 
moment  her  hand  rested  in  his ;  he  did  not  allow  him 
self  to  give  it  even  the  slightest  pressure.  Without 
another  word  or  look,  he  turned  and  hurried  away. 

Could  he  only  have  guessed  all  the  sorrow  that  awaited 
her  during  his  brief  absence,  he  would  have  folded  her 
to  his  heart  then  and  there,  in  spite  of  every  pledge  that 
had  been  spoken. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

IT  was  almost  sunset  the  next  afternoon,  when  Jessie 
Holcombe  ascended  the  stone  steps  of  Judge  Brooks's 
residence.  She  was  immediately  shown  upstairs,  and 
Alice  came  forward  with  eager  pleasure  to  meet  her. 
She  wore  a  long,  dark  dressing-gown,  trimmed  with  fur, 
and  a  heavy  shawl  was  thrown  around  her  shoulders. 

"  Excuse  me  for  not  coming  down,  Jessie,"  she  said, 
"  but  I  took  a  severe  cold  last  night,  and  have  been 
suffering  to-day  with  sore  throat." 

"•  I  am  very  sorry,"  said  Jessie,  still  holding  the  hand 
of  her  friend.  "  You  must  have  found  the  reception 
very  tiresome — everybody  did — there  was  such  a  crush." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Alice,  "  I'm  not  strong  enough  for 
such  occasions  ;  they  exhaust  me  nervously.  I  have 
felt  as  limp  as  an  old  rag  all  day.  But  I  went  to  please 
Waverley,  and  to  have  given  him  some  pleasure  is  com 
pensation  after  all." 

As  they  spoke,  they  entered  a  beautiful  airy  sitting- 
room,  richly  furnished  in  dull  old  gold.  A  large  bay- 
window,  draped  with  delicate  lace  curtains,  filled  up 
one  entire  end ;  a  jardiniere  of  choice  plants  was  stand 
ing  there,  and  on  them  fell  the  last  level  rays  of  the 
setting  sun.  To  Jessie's  eye,  it  was  the  most  beautiful 
room  that  she  had  ever  seen,  and  an  exclamation  of 
delight  burst  from  her  lips. 

"  Yes,  it  is  gorgeous,"  said  Alice  ;  "  it  is  Waverley's 


REDBANK.  287 

sitting-room — lie  furnished  it  himself.  Those  pictures 
011  the  wall  are  his  own  paintings,  and  he  collected  and 
arranged  everything — rugs,  skins,  hangings  and  orna 
ments.  It  cost  a  pretty  sum  of  money,  I  have  heard. 
He  insisted  on  my  using  it  during  his  absence,  but 
I  feel  like  an  intruder  upon  his  privacy." — A  grand 
piano  stood  near  the  centre  of  the  room,  but  it  was 
closed  now,  and  the  music  was  neatly  piled  upon  the 
music-stand. — "  There  is  his  piano,  and  there  are  his 
books,"  said  Alice,  pointing  to  some  shelves  over  which 
hung  a  rich  Algerian  scarf  ;  "  they  are  mostly  in  French, 
German,  or  Italian,  so  I  cannot  read  them."  Before 
seating  herself,  Jessie  went  around  the  room,  and  looked 
at  the  pictures  ;  they  were  mostly  landscapes — bits  of 
bleak  coast,  and  fair  pastoral  scenes,  framed  in  by  moun 
tains.  One  picture  especially  chained  her  attention — 
a  moonlight  on  the  water,  a  boat  with  two  occupants,  a 
lady  and  a  gentleman.  The  gentleman  managed  the 
oars,  while  the  lady  played  upon  the  guitar,  and  the 
music  of  her  voice  seemed  to  be  floating  over  the  water. 
"  That  is  the  Lake  of  Como,"  remarked  Alice  ;  "  I 
believe  that  is  an  incident  in  his  own  life,  though  he  will 
not  confess  it.  He  always  speaks  of  Como  as  heavenly. 
Here  is  a  picture  of  the  Villa  Serbelloni  where  he  stayed 
— it  must  be  an  enchanting  spot."  The  girl  took  a 
quiet  pride  in  pointing  out  the  many  beautiful  things 
that  were  scattered  around.  Jessie  could  understand  it. 
Was  he  not  her  affianced  husband  ?  And  yet  Jessie 
Ilolcombe  recalled  the  expression  of  his  eyes  as  he  had 
looked  into  her  face  more  than  once, 'and  the  tender 
vibration  of  his  voice  as  he  had  pleaded  with  her  last 
night  for  that  poor  faded  forget-me-not  which  she  had 
at  last  thrown  into  the  fire.  What  did  it  all  mean  ? 
She  could  not  make  it  out,  and  a  sickening  sensation 


288  EEDBANK. 

came  over  her  as  she  moved  around  his  room,  and  gazed 
at  the  objects  which  his  hands  had  touched  only  that 
morning. 

"  Come,  let's  sit  down,"  she  said  ;  "  you  are  not  well, 
Alice,  and  it  will  not  do  for  you  to  tire  yourself." 
They  drew  two  easy-chairs  within  the  light  of  the  bay- 
window  and  seated  themselves. 

"  What  in  the  world  made  Nettie  Hunter  invite  every 
body  in  the  city  to  her  reception?"  asked  Alice  in  a 
slight  tone  of  disgust ;  "  it  did  seem  to  me  that  a  few 
might  have  been  comfortably  spared." 

Jessie  smiled.  "  That  is  just  Nettie's  way — she  likes 
everybody  and  everybody  likes  her  ;  she  wanted  to  give 
everybody  a  good  time." 

"  Well,  she  did  not  succeed  so  far  as  I  am  concerned," 
said  Alice.  "  Before  I  finally  escaped,  I  felt  as  if  I  had 
been  knocked  down,  trampled  upon,  and  unmercifully 
beaten.  I  was  never  before  in  such  a  crowd  and  I  hope 
never  again  to  be  victimized  to  such  an  extent." 

"  I  suppose  Mr.  Hunter  also  felt  it  necessary  to  send 
out  a  large  number  of  invitations,"  remarked  Jessie  ; 
"  you  know  clergymen  belong  to  the  public." 

"  Yes,"  exclaimed  Alice ;  "  every  unwashed,  unshaven 
creature  who  drops  into  a  church,  thinks  himself  entitled 
to  the  notice  of  the  minister." 

"  Well,  it  ought  to  be  so,  dear ;  if  they  are  truly  the 
preachers  of  glad  tidings  to  the  people,  as  Christ  was, 
they  ought  not  to  assume  a  social  superiority." 

"I'm  sincerely  glad  I'm  not  a  clergyman's  daughter," 
said  Alice  ;  "  I'm  not  at  all  democratic  in  my  tastes,  and 
some  things  would  be  dreadfully  disagreeable.  Nettie 
never  seemed  to  care  a  fig  for  social  distinctions." 

"  No,  she  has  less  pride  and  pretension  about  her  than 
any  girl  I  ever  knew,"  replied  Jessie ;  "  I  like  that  in  her 


REDS  AN  K.  -2  SO 

very  much.  She  is  always  ready  to  give  a  cordial  greet 
ing  to  the  very  humblest  person.  I  have  seen  her  stop 
and  chat  with  the  old  woman  who  sells  pies  at  the  cor 
ner  of  the  street,  and  every  ragged  boy  in  town  knows 
and  admires  her." 

"  Uncle  thinks  that  she  has  married  exceedingly  well," 
Alice  remarked  after  a  short  silence.  "  He  says  that 
Mr.  Sage  is  a  very  superior  young  man,  and  that  he  is 
finely  connected  in  New  York.  He  represents  a  very 
strong  banking-house,  and  will  be  a  very  rich  man  in 
course  of  time." 

"  I  am  glad — I  think  Nettie  will  enjoy  being  rich ;  she 
will  not  put  on  airs,  as  we  used  to  say  at  school."  And 
Jessie  laughed. 

"  I  dislike  people  who  feel  elevated  when  they  have 
made  a  little  money,"  said  Alice ;  "  as  if  that  could  really 
make  them  more  important  in  the  world." 

"  It  does  make  them  more  important  in  the  eyes  of 
some  people,"  replied  Jessie.  "  It  must  be  a  very  nice 
thing  to  have.  I  used  to  be  perfectly  indifferent  to  it ; 
I  did  not  even  understand  its  value  as  a  purchasing 
power ;  but  of  late,  I  have  had  glimpses  of  the  many 
beautiful  things  which  it  can  buy.  It  is  not  altogether 
'  filthy  lucre.'  See  this  lovely  room,  for  instance.  But 
for  money,  it  would  have  been  an  unrealized  dream. 
What  a  delight  it  must  be  to  sit  day  after  day  in  the 
midst  of  such  surroundings — to  drink  in  the  warmth  of 
sunshine  that  falls  through  such  a  film  of  lace,  the  fra 
grance  of  flowers  so  exquisitely  arranged,  the  harmony 
of  color  that  satisfies  the  senses  as  music  does  ;  and  last 
of  all  to  have  such  a  splendid  piano,  well  tuned  and  with 
a  mighty  volume  of  sound.  Yes,  I  would  like  it  all !  " 
And  she  indulged  in  a  mocking  little  laugh  as  if  oppressed 
by  the  futility  of  such  wishes. 


290  REDBANK. 

"  Why.  how  worldly  you  are  getting,  Jessie  !  "  ex 
claimed  Alice ;  "  I  have  always  looked  upon  you 
as  the  simplest  maiden  on  this  green  earth — one  of  the 
unconscious,  unspoiled  kind.  Surely  a  residence  of 
two  days  in  this  wicked  old  city  has  not  corrupted 
you?" 

Again  Jessie  laughed  and  shook  her  head.  "  Oh  !  no ; 
I'm  not  utterly  corrupted  yet ;  and  I'm  only  beginning  to 
see  some  of  the  possibilities  of  existence.  I  think  my 
sensuous  side  is  just  awakening.  Never  fear — it  will 
have  to  go  to  sleep  again.  The  prose  of  life  is  for  me — 
not  the  poetry." 

"  You  are  wrong,  then,"  said  Alice  ;  "  you  are  the 
very  one  to  get  the  poetry.  But  it  has  small  connection 
with  wealth.  For  instance,  this  room — it  is  not  money 
that  has  made  it  beautiful,  but  good  taste." 

"  The  most  refined  taste  without  money  would  have 
been  unavailing,"  replied  Jessie.  "  Besides,  the  taste 
was  trained  and  educated  by  advantages  which  could 
only  be  procured  by  wealth." 

"  How  mercenary  you  are  growing !  You  startle 
me,"  said  Alice,  breaking  into  a  laugh,  in  which  her 
friend  heartily  joined. 

"  No  ;  I  again  repeat  that  I  am  only  getting  glimpses 
of  possibilities.  It  is  one  thing  to  estimate  wealth  aright 
— it  is  another  to  barter  one's  higher  nature  for  it. 
But  really  I  must  go — it  will  soon  be  dark." 

"  Do  spend  the  night  with  me,"  pleaded  Alice. 

"  I  cannot,  dear ;  I  promised  Mrs.  Hunter  that  I  would 
be  back  without  fail." 

"  But  I  will  send  Harris  with  a  message." 

"  That  would  not  do.  She  expects  me  to  return,  and 
it  would  be  cruel  to  disappoint  her.  Besides,  they  will 
both  be  so  lonely  to-night ;  the  excitement  is  all  over 


EEDBANK:  291 

now,  and  the  reaction  has  come.  I  must  try  to  com 
fort  them  a  little."  She  arose  to  go. 

"  Sit  down  just  a  minute,"  said  Alice  ;  "  I  want  to 
say  something  to  you.  You  will  not  mind  ?  You  will 
not  get  vexed  with  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not.  How  could  I  ever  get  vexed  with 
you,  dear?"  As  she  spoke,  Jessie  stooped  and  kissed 
the  brow  of  her  friend,  and  then  added,  "  What  is  it  ? 
Tell  me  quickly.  See  how  dark  it  is  growing." 

"  Well,  sit  down ;  I  cannot  talk  to  you  comfortably  if 
you  are  standing  up ;  you  tower  above  me  and  over 
shadow  me.  Jessie  dear,  I  must  tell  you  something." 
She  paused  a  moment ;  it  evidently  cost  her  an  effort  to 
speak.  "  I  want  you  to  know  that  I  am  not  engaged  to 
Waverley — I  have  never  been  really  engaged  to  him — 
no  rings  have  ever  been  exchanged  between  us.  Uncle 
was  not  willing  for  us  to  pledge  ourselves  when  we  were 
very  young  ;  he  required  us  to  wait." 

Jessie's  heart  gave  a  strange,  wild  bound,  and  the  blood 
rushed  to  her  face,  but  she  was  silent.  It  was  almost 
dark  in  the  room,  and  Alice  could  not  see  her  emotion. 

"  Before  Waverley  went  to  Europe,  there  were  some 
silly  love  scenes  between  us,"  Alice  continued,  "but 
neither  of  us  were  very  deeply  in  earnest,  and  it  is  all 
over  now.  Both  of  us  realize  that  we  can  never  be  any 
thing  nearer  than  cousins.  I  am  dreadfully  sorry  to  dis 
appoint  every  one — mamma,  uncle,  the  public  at  large, 
and  you,  too,  dear."  Alice  smiled  her  sweet,  sad  smile 
that  meant  a  great  deal  more  than  was  expressed. 

"  Yes,  it  is  an  awful  disappointment  to  me,"  said 
Jessie,  struggling  to  be  calm ;  "  I  had  hoped  to  be  your 
bridesmaid.  It  is  a  very  interesting  rdle" 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  consoling  you,  dear  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  must  marry  somebody  else." 


292  REDBANK. 

The  young  girl  shook  her  head,  and  said  sadly  : 

"  No,  I  shall  never  marry  any  one."  After  a  moment 
she  added,  l'  I  want  you  to  know,  Jessie,  that  Waverley 
is  the  soul  of  honor.  I  can  never  tell  you  how  noble 
and  delicate  he  has  been  in  his  conduct  towards  me. 
He  has  thought  only  of  my  feelings." 

Jessie  could  not  trust  herself  to  speak.  She  under 
stood  well  why  Alice  had  made  this  confession,  and  her 
heart  was  full  to  overflowing. 

"  Jessie,"  said  Alice,  in  a  low,  sad  tone,  "  I  would  like 
to  be  a  Vestal  Virgin,  if  only  there  were  a  temple  and 
an  altar,  and  a  fire  to  be  kept  forever  burning ;  but  not 
even  that  is  left  to  us  now ;  the  fire  has  gone  out  long 
ago." 

"  Yes,  dear,  that  fire ;  but  there  are  many  others  that 
need  to  be  kept  up." 

She  spoke  almost  in  a  whisper ;  then  she  stooped  and 
again  kissed  Alice.  In  a  moment  she  was  gone. 

She  descended  the  staircase  rapidly,  feeling  hurried 
and  excited,  and  anxious  to  escape  notice.  She  wanted 
the  cool,  fresh  air  of  evening  to  blow  upon  her  heated 
face,  and  calm  the  fever  in  her  veins.  As  she  reached 
the  lower  hall,  a  gentleman  entered  the  front  door.  It 
was  impossible  to  avoid  him.  It  was  Judge  Brooks  ;  he 
recognized  her,  and  came  forward  in  his  cordial  way, 
exclaiming,  "  Why,  Jessie,  my  dear,  how  glad  I  am  to 
see  you  !  Have  you  been  up  to  call  on  Alice  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I'm  sorry  to  find  her  ill." 

"  It  was  that  wedding  fandango,"  he  said,  with  an 
impatient  expression,  "  she  is  getting  to  be  a  regular 
hot-house  plant — a  breath  of  cold  air  chills  her.  But  I 
intend  to  keep  her  with  me  a  while  now,  and  have  the 
attendance  of  a  first-rate  physician.  We  will  cure  her, 
if  possible.  We  will  hedge  her  around  with  orders  and 


REDBANK.  293 

commandments.  First  of  all,  we  forbid  weddings  in 
future  ;  so  you  need  not  invite  her  to  yours,  my  dear." 

Jessie  laughed,  and  remarked,  "  I  was  sorry  not  to 
see  you  last  night ;  we  hoped  that  you  would  honor  the 
occasion  by  your  presence." 

"  Thank  you  for  missing  me ;  but  I  am  getting  too 
old  for  such  things." 

"  Oh  !  no,  you  are  not ;  you  must  not  speak  of  being 
old." 

"  I  think  you  have  sometimes  reminded  me  of  the 
fact,"  he  said,  smiling  a  little  sadly. 

"  Then  I  was  very  rucb  and  thoughtless,  and  hope  you 
will  forgive  me." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  forgive,  my  dear.  I  am  old — I 
feel  it  now,  and  am  resigned." 

She  felt  herself  unequal  to  the  task  of  talking  to  him, 
and  made  a  movement  towards  the  door. 

"  You  are  not  going,  are  you  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Spend 
the  night  with  us." 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  cannot ;  I  promised  Mrs.  Hunter 
to  return,  and  I  must  not  linger  any  longer ;  it  is  quite 
dark  now." 

"  Yes,  it  is  too  late  for  you  to  go  alone  ;  I  will  accom 
pany  you  to  the  rectory.  But  come  in  here  a  moment, 
and  let  me  see  you,  Jessie." 

She  could  not  refuse ;  he  took  her  hand  in  his,  and 
led  her  into  the  large,  brilliantly-lighted  drawing-room. 
The  young  girl  looked  at  him  with  a  tender,  intense  gaze. 
Yes,  he  was  changed ;  he  had  grown  older  ;  there  were 
lines  about  the  eyes  and  mouth  which  she  had  never 
noticed  before,  and  she  wondered  if  Waverley  had 
grieved  him  so  deeply  as  to  add  these  furrrows  to  his 
face.  Yes,  it  must  be  that.  She  could  easily  guess  his 
disappointment  in  his  son.  It  must  be  a  cruel  blow  to 


294  EEDBANK. 

nourish  hopes  and  expectations  for  years,  to  work  hard 
for  their  final  accomplishment,  and  then  to  have  them 
swept  away  as  rubbish  by  a  careless  hand.  She  could 
scarcely  forgive  the  young  man,  and  yet  she  could  not 
find  it  in  her  heart  to  condemn  him.  He  was  a  noble  fel 
low,  and  she  blamed  herself  for  being  so  cold  and  cruel 
as  to  refuse  him  that  poor  faded  forget-me-not.  Well, 
it  could  not  be  helped  now.  Some  day,  perhaps,  he 
would  return,  and  she  would  not  be  so  unbending  in  her 
pride.  These  thoughts  passed  rapidly  through  her  mind, 
as  the  Judge  moved  the  chairs  and  found  a  comfortable 
seat  for  her. 

"  Jessie,  my  dear,"  he  said,  lingering  fondly  on  the 
name,  "  I  wish  you  would  come  and  stay  awhile  with 
Alice.  It  would  cheer  her  immensely,  and  me,  too. 
We  are  rather  a  melancholy  couple  to  be  left  to  our  own 
devices." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  but  I  cannot,"  said  the  young 
girl,  shrinking  from  the  thought  of  accepting  his  hos 
pitality. 

"  May  I  ask  why  ?  "  and  he  looked  at  her  intently  as 
if  determined  to  read  her  very  soul ;  then  he  added, 
"  You  must  not  be  afraid  that  I  will  persecute  you, 
Jessie.  That  is  all  over  now.  I  am  convinced  of  my 
folly.  It  is  only  necessary  to  look  at  you,  my  dear,  in 
order  to  realize  that  you  are  beyond  my  reach.  You 
are  blossoming  into  greater  loveliness  every  day,  like  a 
flower  that  keeps  opening  wider  and  wider  to  the  sun 
light.  It  is  not  for  my  old  hand  to  pluck  it.  I  must 
leave  it  for  some  one  younger  and  more  worthy." 

Jessie  was  inexpressibly  touched  by  his  words  and 
manner ;  a  vivid  blush  spread  over  her  face  as  she  said  : 
'w  You  must  not  talk  so ;  there  is  no  one  on  earth  half 
so  worthy  as  yourself.  I  feel  it  more  and  more  every 


EEDBANK.  295 

day.  It  would  be  a  noble  task  in  life  to  make  you 
happy — if  only  I  could  succeed ;  but  I  know  that  I 
should  fail,"  and  she  shook  her  head  sadly. 

"Yes,  you  would  fail,  Jessie.  There  is  a  brighter 
destiny  in  store  for  you,  my  child." 

"  Please  don't  say  another  word ! "  she  exclaimed, 
raising  her  hand  imploringly ;  "  I  will  not  have  you 
making  predictions  about  me — I  am  content  to  wait." 

"  I  know  it,  dear,"  he  replied,  slowly  and  solemnly. 
"  I  will  not  utter  a  single  prediction,  but  I  see  it  all  like 
a  beautiful  vision,  and,  Jessie,  my  darling,  I  am  content 
— I  would  not  have  it  otherwise  if  I  could." 

The  tears  were  gathering  in  her  eyes  ;  she  could  not 
sit  there  any  longer  and  hear  him  talk  in  this  way.  She 
arose  to  her  feet,  exclaiming,  hoarsely,  "  I  must  go ;  I 
cannot  stay  another  minute." 

"  I  am  going  with  you,"  he  said. 

"  No,  no ;  please  don't — please  don't,"  and  again  she 
raised  her  hand  with  an  imploring  gesture.  "  I  am  not 
at  all  afraid  to  go  alone.  It  is  not  far." 

"  I  cannot  allow  it,  my  dear,"  he  replied,  reaching  for 
his  hat. 

"  Then  let  Harris  go  with  me,"  she  pleaded.  The 
old  servant  was  moving  about  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
hall.  Hearing  his  name  spoken,  he  approached  at 
once. 

"  Harris,"  said  the  young  lady,  "  get  your  hat  and 
accompany  me  to  the  rectory.  Your  master  wishes  to 
go,  but  he  is  tired,  and  I  cannot  consent  for  him  to  go 
out  again  on  my  account.  Good-night,"  and  she  ex 
tended  her  hand  to  the  Judge.  He  took  it  and  held  it 
for  a  moment. 

"  Good-night,  and  God  bless  you  !  "  he  said. 


CHAPTER  XXTV. 

ALTHOUGH  it  was  only  the  first  of  March,  signs  of 
spring  were  already  beginning  to  appear  on  all  sides. 
The  fruit  trees  were  in  blossom,  and  a  delicate  mist  of  green 
hovered  over  the  distant  woods.  The  songs  of  happy 
birds  were  heard  again  ;  the  coo  of  the  turtle-dove  and 
the  whistle  of  the  partridge  came  floating  on  the  soft, 
sweet  air.  At  Redbank  the  negroes  were  cleaning  up 
the  fields  and  lighting  bonfires  in  all  directions ;  the 
odor  of  burning  brush  was  mingled  with  the  odor  of  the 
earth,  freshly  upturned  by  the  plow.  A  faint,  smoky 
haze  hung  in  the  atmosphere,  lending  to  all  objects  that 
dimness  of  outline  which  is  so  enchanting  to  the  eye 
and  to  the  imagination. 

The  sun  was  mounting  higher  and  higher  every  day, 
and  his  generous  rays  were  warming  the  world  into  life 
and  beauty.  All  living  creatures  felt  the  impulse  to 
step  out  of  doors  and  bask  in  the  genial  heat. 

Jessie  Holcombe  was  again  at  Redbank.  On  her 
return  from  the  city,  after  a  visit  of  several  weeks,  she 
had  been  glad  to  find  every  one  well,  and  the  machinery 
of  life  moving  on  quietly  and  smoothly.  Harry  had 
come  back  during  her  absence,  and  fallen  into  the  old 
habits  of  eating,  sleeping,  hunting  and  lounging  around. 
He  looked  dejected,  and  Jessie  feared  that  he  was 
recovering  from  a  prolonged  period  of  dissipation,  but 
she  said  nothing.  She  pitied  him  more  than  ever, 


REDBANK.  297 

because  he  appeared  less  light-hearted  and  gay,  and 
was  evidently  struggling  with  a  very  real  trouble — a 
haunting  phantom  that  would  not  be  downed. 

One  afternoon,  she  was  sitting  out  on  the  piazza  in 
the  warm  sunshine,  reading,  when  her  brother  came 
sauntering  up  the  steps  in  a  listless  fashion,  and  approach 
ing  the  joggling-board,  threw  himself  down  upon  it  at 
full  length.  He  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes  to  shut 
out  the  dazzling  light,  and  in  a  little  while  he  seemed 
to  be  sleeping.  Jessie  did  not  notice  him,  but  continued 
to  read.  Half  an  hour  passed  without  a  word,  when  at 
length  Harry  pushed  back  his  hat,  and  said  : 

"  What  are  you  reading,  Jessie  ?  You  appear  to  be 
perfectly  absorbed." 

"  '  Alton  Locke,'  "  she  replied,  looking  up  for  a  moment 
from  the  page ;  "  have  you  read  it  ?  " 

"  Only  glanced  at  it ;  it  is  not  a  very  cheerful  pro 
duction,"  he  answered ;  "  how  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

"  I  find  it  rather  interesting  ;  but  I  do  not  know  much 
about  that  Chartist  movement,  and,  perhaps,  I  do  not 
give  the  actors  enough  of  my  sympathy.  The  truth  is, 
I  don't  like  political  agitators." 

"  There  the  woman  spoke  !  "  he  exclaimed  impatiently. 

"But  governments  seem  somewhat  sacred  to  me," 
she  said ;  "  they  are  symbols  of  the  law  which  rules  the 
Universe.  Men  should  respect  them.  Agitation  often 
brings  far  greater  evils  than  it  remedies." 

"  Nonsense  !  You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking 
about.  Human  governments  are  made  by  men,  and 
they  have  the  faults  and  failings  that  men  have.  Only 
agitation  and  actual  insurrection  can  force  the  gover 
nors  to  attend  to  the  sufferings  of  the  governed."  He 
spoke  with  a  passionate  indignation  that  was  not  usual 
with  him. 


298  REDBANE. 

"  But  when  the  agitation  or  insurrection  is  sup 
pressed  by  arms,  and  the  leaders  are  led  off  to  execu 
tion,  while  the  helpless  followers  are  shut  up  in  prison, 
where  is  the  benefit?  "  she  asked. 

"  Even  then  public  opinion  is  more  or  less  affected  by 
the  new  ideas,  and  the  governing  classes  are  compelled 
to  modify  their  tyrannical  proceedings.  Without  such 
struggles  on  the  part  of  the  people,  all  governments 
would  crystallize  into  absolute  despotism.  It  is  surpris 
ing  how  soon  the  possession  of  power  makes  a  man  a 
tyrant.  Let  a  man  rise  from  the  ranks  as  did  Cromwell 
or  Napoleon,  and  just  as  soon  as  he  becomes  a  master, 
he  begins  to  forge  chains  for  the  people." 

"  Then  the  evil  lies  deeper — it  is  inherent  in  human 
nature,"  she  said,  with  a  quiet  smile ;  "  men  must 
become  better  themselves,  if  they  would  have  better 
governments." 

"  That  will  be  a  mighty  slow  process,"  he  exclaimed 
in  a  tone  of  disgust ;  "  at  the  present  rate  of  progress, 
it  will  take  several  great  cycles  before  men  cease  to 
enjoy  tyrannizing  over  their  fellow-men.  Before  that 
blessed  era  arrives,  I'm  afraid  our  planet  will  be  as  cold 
and  desolate  as  the  moon." 

"I  don't  believe  that,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head; 
"  we  do  advance  a  little,  century  by  century.  After  a 
while,  we  will  abandon  those  old  methods  of  insurrec 
tion  and  revolution." 

"I  only  hope  we  may,"  he  replied ;  "but  you  and  I 
will  not  live,  to  see  it.  War  is  an  ugly  thing  for  a 
nation  as  well  as  for  an  individual.  It  is  like  waiting 
to  get  dreadfully  sick  and  then  taking  a  lot  of  nasty 
medicine.  There  are  laws  of  health,  which,  if  followed, 
would  prevent  people  from  getting  sick  at  all.  I  think 
the  people  of  a  country  ought  to  take  more  trouble  to 


REDBANK.  299 

find  out  what  the  rascally  politicians  are  about,  and  nip 
their  schemes  in  the  bud.  Every  man  ought  to  own  a 
powerful  telescope  and  keep  it  turned  right  upon  Wash 
ington  all  the  time.  Men  are  altogether  too  careless 
about  public  affairs  until  a  crisis  comes  ;  then  they  kick 
up  a  dreadful  row,  which  often  ends  in  smoke,  defeat, 
and  humiliation,  as  our  war  did.  What  did  the  great 
mass  of  Southerners  know  about  the  real,  true  cause  of 
the  war?  What  did  they  know  about  the  relative 
strength  of  the  sections  ?  Absolutely  nothing.  A  few 
politicians  managed  the  whole  business,  and,  like  stupid 
sheep,  we  followed  them.  Now  we  are  turned  out  of 
our  '  green  pastures  beside  the  still  waters,'  and  have  to 
roam  the  mountain-sides  in  search  of  a  few  stray  blades 
of  grass.  I  tell  you,  it  is  devilish  hard." 

"  You  are  getting  too  deep  for  me,  Harry,"  said  the 
girl,  turning  again  to  her  book.  She  did  not  care  to 
discuss  anything  connected  with  the  war.  For  a  time 
she  went  on  with  her  reading,  but  presently  he  again 
interrupted  her. 

"  Jessie,  do  you  believe  there  is  another  life  after  this 
one  ?  " 

She  was  startled  by  the  question  as  well  as  the  tone  in 
which  it  was  spoken. 

"  Of  course,  I  do,"  she  replied ;  "  did  we  not  say  the 
creed  together  at  our  mother's  knee  :  '  I  believe  in  the 
Holy  Grhost  ;  the  holy  Catholic  Church  ;  the  Communion 
of  Saints  ;  the  Forgiveness  of  Sins  ;  the  Resurrection  of 
the  Body  ;  and  the.  'Life  Everlasting?'''' 

"  Oh,  yes,  we  said  it  often  enough,  but  it  was  so 
much  Sanscrit  to  me.  Saying  a  thing  isn't  always  be 
lieving  it,  by  a  long  shot." 

u  Harry  dear,  it  grieves  me  to  hear  you  talk  so,"  she 
said. 


300  REDBANK. 

"  I  know  it,  Jessie ;  you  were  always  a  good  little  girl. 
But  how  can  I  believe  a  thing  if  I  can't,  I'd  like  to  know. 
For  my  part,  I  believe  that  death  is  an  eternal  and 
dreamless  sleep — that  alone  will  be  a  compensation  for 
all  the  ills  of  life.  When  night  comes,  I  like  to  wrap 
my  blanket  around  me  and  forget  everything  in  sleep  ; 
it  is  compensation  for  all  the  fatigues  and  mistakes  of 
the  day.  So  death  will  come  to  us  and  close  our  eyes 
forever." 

"  Oh,  Harry,  you  are  a  real  pagan  !  "  she  exclaimed, 
looking  at  him  sorrowfully. 

"  No,  I'm  worse  than  that,"  he  answered  ;  "  most  of  the 
pagans  believed  in  a  spiritual  life  beyond  the  grave. 
Those  people  whom  we  stigmatize  nowadays  as  heathen, 
believe  in  a  hereafter  of  some  kind.  The  ancient  Greeks 
believed  in  a  Styx  to  be  crossed,  a  grim  tribunal  to  be 
faced,  a  trial  by  judges,  and  an  award  of  happiness  or 
misery.  I  rather  like  their  faith ;  it  was  founded  on 
right  and  justice.  A  fellow  got  what  he  deserved. 
Now  with  Christianity  it  is  different :  it  is  the  sneak 
ing,  long-faced,  psalm-singing  creatures  who  go  right  to 
heaven  when  they  die,  provided  they  can  swallow  the 
whole  Thirty-nine  Articles  without  making  a  wry  face." 

"  That's  not  Christianity,"  said  Jessie,  shaking  her 
head;  "you  are  mistaken,  if  you  think  so.  To  be  a  Chris- 
tiar  is  to  be  like  Christ,  and  we  are  told  that  He  went 
aboui  doing  good,  and  preaching  the  beautiful  doctrine 
that  God  is  our  Great  Father,  and  all  men  are  brothers." 

"  Those  who  call  themselves  His  people  are  mighty 
little  like  Him  nowadays.  They  are  just  as  selfish  and 
greedy  after  the  good  things  of  the  world  as  all  the  rest  of 
us.  I  wish  to  goodness  that  I  had  lived  in  the  time  of 
those  old  Greeks.  They  were  fine  fellows :  they  had 

respect  for  strength,  valor,  and  beauty.     They  did  not 

19 


REDRANK.  301 

think  much  of  business  and  money-making ;  they  left 
that  dirty  work  to  slaves.  In  these  latter  days  of  the 
glorious  nineteenth  century,  no  man  succeeds  in  life 
who  does  not  go  into  some  kind  of  business  and  make  a 
big  pile  of  money — the  more  the  better.  It  fills  me  with 
disgust.  I  could  live  for  something  really  worth  living 
for,  and  die  for  something  really  worth  dying  for,  but  I 
shall  never  stand  behind  a  counter,  and  sell  needles  and 
pins,  and  spools  of  cotton ;  I'll  take  to  the  woods  first,  and 
live  on  nuts  and  berries." 

He  was  silent  for  a  few  moments  and  then  he  sat 
upright,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Jessie,  I  was  born  several  thou 
sand  years  too  late.  What  shall  I  do  ?  I  don't  seem  to 
fit  into  this  present  civilization.  I  ought  to  have  been 
with  Leonidas  and  his  Spartans  at  ThermopylEe  ;  I  could 
have  been  of  some  use  there.  That  bit  of  fighting 
was  fine  ! " 

Jessie  looked  up  from  her  book  and  smiled.  In  a  way, 
she  knew  that  he  was  right ;  he  was  capable  of  splendid 
flashes  of  heroism.  He  would  make  a  fine  soldier,  or  a 
fine  sailor ;  he  could  hunt  bears  in  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains,  or  sail  to  the  North  Pole ;  but  he  could  not  run  a 
mill,  or  manage  a  store,  or  direct  a  bank,  so  there  was 
but  small  use  for  him  in  these  modern  times. 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  you  mean,  Harry,"  she  said,  in  her 
sweet,  sympathetic  voice  ;  "  there  is  a  great  charm  in 
that  old  Greek  life.  Sometimes  I,  too,  feel  that  their 
civilization  was  higher  than  ours.  We  seem  more 
material  in  our  aims,  and  less  intellectual  and  aesthetic ; 
but  one  cannot  tell — behind  all  their  love  of  the  beau 
tiful,  there  must  have  been  much  ghastly  suffering. 
Think  of  the  Helotes." 

"So  there  is  now,"  he  replied,  "  and  the  world  is 
more  than  two  thousand  years  older.  If  the  teachings 


302  EEDBANK. 

of  Christ  had  been  followed,  human  suffering  would  have 
been  eliminated  by  this  time." 

"  I  think  not,"  she  said  ;  "  suffering  is  so  closely  con 
nected  with  ignorance,  and  men  grow  wise  very  slowly. 
Each  new  human  life  begins  at  the  beginning,  and  must 
learn  for  itself,  through  its  own  experience,  and  the  span 
is  very  short.  But  we  cannot  settle  these  things,  Harry, 
and  it  does  no  good  to  talk  about  them.  The  age  of 
Greek  civilization  is  past ;  you  were  not  permitted  to 
live  then,  and  you  are  permitted  to  live  now.  Try  to 
make  something  noble  out  of  your  life,  even  if  you  have 
fallen  upon  evil  times.  If  you  would  only  go  to  work 
hi  earnest, you  would  not  be  worried  by  all  these  questions. 
We  are  hedged  around  with  awful  mysteries,  but,  after 
all,  some  things  are  very  plain.  We  are  set  in  the  midst 
of  duties,  and  our  happiness  lies  in  doing  them." 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you  there,"  he  replied.  "  We 
are  not  fixed  in  the  soil  by  roots  with  nothing  to  do  but 
grow.  We  are  left  to  develop  our  own  roots,  and  find 
a  spot  to  fix  ourselves  in,  and  then  get  our  proper  nour 
ishment  ;  and  I  tell  you  it  is  devilish  hard  to  do.  Some 
times  we  are  even  torn  up  after  we  are  firmly  planted, 
and  seemed  to  be  growing  pretty  fair.  No,  Jessie, 
I  can't  agree  with  you — nothing's  plain  in  this  world 
— everything  is  in  a  muddle.  Now,  for  a  personal 
application  :  look  at  me,  I  don't  know  what  to  do,  nor 
where  to  go.  I  haven't  talents,  as  they  call  them,  and 
I  haven't  energy,  and  I  haven't  money.  What's  to 
be  done  with  such  a  fellow?  There  is  no  place  for 
him  in  the  universe,  and  the  best  thing  for  him  is  to  fall 
asleep." 

"  No  !  no  !  "  exclaimed  Jessie,  "  the  best  thing  is  to 
struggle  to  develop  energy  and  talent.  You  cannot 
guess  what  is  in  you  until  you  begin  the  fight  with  life. 


REDBANK.  303 

Half  the  pleasure  of  living  comes  from  the  determination 
never  to  give  up — never  to  be  conquered  in  the  battle. 
If  one  thing  fails,  try  another.  Men  have  made  them 
selves  great  and  strong  in  that  way." 

"  Well,  we  will  think  about  it,"  he  said,  as  he  again 
extended  himself  upon  the  joggling-board.  "  It  sounds 
good  and  wise,  but  I  daresay  there's  a  flaw  somewhere  in 
the  argument — there  generally  is  in  all  advice  ;  "  and  he 
laughed  quietly  to  himself.  Jessie  went  back  to  her 
book,  but  the  interest  was  gone,  and  she  turned  the 
pages  very  slowly.  Soon  Harry  again  interrupted  her 
— his  mind  was  evidently  full  of  thoughts  this  after 
noon. 

"  Jessie,  do  you  know  what  I  would  do  if  I  were 
rich?" 

She  smiled  and  replied,  "  No,  I  haven't  the  least  idea. 
Tell  me." 

"  Well,  I  would  travel.  It  is  my  opinion  that  there 
is  more  fun  in  travelling  than  in  anything  else  in  the 
world." 

"  It  is  very  possible  to  travel  without  a  great  deal  of 
money — at  least  for  a  man,"  she  said.  "  You  might  buy 
a  monkey  and  go  round  the  world  with  him." 

"  Gracious  !  what  plebeian  notions  you  have  !  When 
I  start  on  my  travels,  I  wish  to  go  en  prince — with  a 
retinue  and  plenty  of  money  to  give  to  the  beggars.  I 
would  like  .especially  to  go  to  Rome  and  stand  among 
the  crumbling  columns  of  the  Forum,  and  to  Greece 
and  walk  over  the  plains  of  Marathon.  Yes,  with  a  big 
pile  of  money,  one  can  make  life  jolly  enough.  Why 
did  a  wise  Providence  permit  my  fortune  to  be  swept 
away  by  the  calamity  of  war?  I'm  rather  inclined  to 
question  the  wisdom  of  that  particular  Providence." 

"  There  are  hundreds  of  acres  of  land  in  the  Far  West 


304  ttEUBANK. 

waiting  to  be  settled,"  said  Jessie  ;  "  why  don't  you  go 
and  claim  your  inheritance  ?  It  is  worth  money  now, 
and  will  be  worth  still  more  in  the  course  of  time." 

"  It  is  almost  as  much  of  a  desert  as  Sahara,"  he  ex 
claimed  impatiently ;  "  by  Jupiter,  I'm  not  going  to 
work  it.  I'll  starve  first.  But  I'd  just  like  to  know 
who  it  is  that  has  cheated  me  out  of  my  own  lawful  pos 
sessions.  If  I  could  only  find  the  particular  individual, 
I  would  be  very  apt  to  put  a  bullet  into  his  head.  Why 
am  I  turned  almost  penniless  upon  the  world?"  He 
looked  up  at  his  sister,  as  if  demanding  a  reply. 

She  shook  her  head  and  said,  "  I  cannot  answer  any 
of  your  questions,  Harry.  But  I  do  believe,  if  you 
would  go  to  work  at  something,  many  of  them  would  be 
answered  for  you.  We  are  told  that  it  is  the  idle  who 
are  full  of  perplexities  and  doubts.  When  one  is  very 
busy,  mists  and  fogs  and  clouds  disappear,  and  there  is 
a  general  clearing  up  of  the  mental  weather." 

"  You  are  a  wise  little  puss,  Jessie,  and  I've  a  vague 
feeling  that  you  are  right,  but  your  prescription  is 
devilish  hard  to  take.  The  only  law  which  I  find  ful 
filled  in  my  being  is  the  law  of  inertia."  Jessie  laughed. 
"  It  is  a  property  of  matter  which  is  only  overcome  by 
the  application  of  some  external  force,"  he  continued. 
"  If  a  fellow  gives  me  a  kick,  my  inertia  is  slightly  over 
come  ;  it  takes  nothing  less." 

"  Then  you  ought  to  hire  somebody  to  kick  you  con 
tinually,"  said  Jessie,  again  laughing ;  "  suppose  you 
get  Mike — he  has  nothing  in  particular  to  do.  Take 
him  around  with  you  and  have  him  administer  the  re 
quired  number  of  kicks  every  day." 

"  That  wouldn't  answer,"  he  replied,  "  for  the  momen 
tum  excited  by  each  one  of  his  kicks  would  all  be  ex 
pended  in  kicking  him  back  again." 


305 

"  Oh !  Harry,  Harry,  I  have  no  philosophy  deep 
enough  to  reach  your  case,"  she  exclaimed  ;  "  you  don't 
believe  in  anything  but  inertia  and  sleep.  What  a  creed 
for  an  American  !  I  had  rather  be  a  Hindoo  and  wor 
ship  Juggernaut." 

"  You  are  right,"  he  said,  laughing ;  "  but  here  comes 
Sugar-plum.  We'll  leave  metaphysics  for  the  present." 
As  Lilian  approached  the  joggliiig-board  on  which  he 
lay,  he  looked  up  at  her.  "  Come  here,  Pet,  and  let 
me  put  my  naughty  head  in  your  lap. — There,  that's 
ever  so  nice.  Now,  run  your  fingers  through  my  hair, 
and  see  if  you  can't  make  things  pleasanter  for  me." 
She  did  as  he  requested,  and  he  caught  her  little  hand 
more  than  once  and  kissed  it.  "  Nice  little  hand  !  dear 
•  little  hand !  "  he  murmured,  softly  ;  "  I  wonder  who  is 
going  to  win  it  some  day.  I'd  like  to  kick  him,  whoever 
he  is." 

"  Why,  Uncle  Hal,  my  hand  is  always  going  to  belong 
to  me,"  she  said,  laughing  at  his  words. 

"  No,  it  isn't,"  he  answered,  kissing  it  again.  "  You'll 
be  giving  it  away  to  some  confounded,  good-for-nothing, 
impudent  fellow  in  a  few  years,  and  I'm  angry  with  him 
right  now.  He  doesn't  deserve  it  in  the  least — the 
sweetest  little  hand  that  ever  was  made  !  Don't  you 
ever  get  married,  dear :  men  are  awful  old  humbugs. 
There  is  nothing  sweet  in  the  whole  round  world  but 
little  girls.  They  are  the  salt  that  keeps  the  Universe 
from  corruption." 

She  pinched  his  ear,  and  told  him  to  hush  talking, 
and  go  to  sleep  right  away.  She  played  with  his  soft 
curls,  and  rocked  him  gently  up  and  down  upon  the 
joggling-board,  and  sang  a  low  cradle-song  whenever  he 
stirred. 

Jessie  went  on  with  her  book  until  the  hour  of  sunset. 


306  REDBANR. 

Then  she  closed  it  and  fixed  her  eyes  upon  the  splen 
dors  of  the  west.  As  she  watched  the  brilliant  clouds, 
she  thought,  "  How  nice  it  would  be  to  have  a  little 
boat  like  Hiawatha's  and  sail  away  into  the  sunset.  It 
would  be  beautiful  to  go  home  that  way." 

Harry  still  slept  on,  and  Lilian  sat  patiently  holding 
his  head  and  stroking  his  hair.  Jessie  knew  that  the 
child  must  be  tired,  but  she  could  not  find  it  in  her 
heart  to  arouse  the  sleeper.  If  sleep  were  indeed  so 
beautiful  to  him,  then  let  him  sleep.  She  listened  to 
his  heavy  breathing  with  a  sad  heart.  Poor  Harry ! 
what  was  to  become  of  him  ?  Would  he  go  on  living 
this  aimless,  wretched  life  for  twenty,  thirty,  fifty  years, 
perhaps,  before  the  Eternal  Sleep  for  Avhich  he  sighed 
came  to  him  ?  The  thought  was  full  of  pain,  and  tears 
gathered  in  her  eyes. — Finally,  the  young  man  stirred, 
yawned,  stretched  his  limbs,  and  slowly  came  back  to 
himself. 

"  Why,  Pet,"  he  cried,  "  you  must  be  tired  !  How 
long  have  I  been  sleeping  ?  " 

"  Ever  and  ever  and  ever  so  long,"  she  answered, 
drawing  a  deep  breath  ;  "  but  I  didn't  mind." 

"  Thank  you,  darling,  for  holding  my  good-for-noth 
ing  head,"  he  said,  lifting  her  in  his  arms  and  kissing 
her ;  "  now,  come,  and  let's  joggle  away  the  old  tired." 
He  bounded  upon  the  board,  and  began  to  spring  up 
and  down  with  her. 

"  Come,  Jessie,  and  join  us.  Let's  play  that  we  are 
children  again,  and  have  a  real,  good,  old-fashioned 
romp." 

She  did  not  reply,  so  he  approached  the  chair  in  which 
she  was  sitting.  He  saw  the  tears  in  her  eyes.  "  Why, 
what  are  you  crying  about  ?  Have  the  sorrows  of '  Alton 
Locke  '  opened  the  fountain  of  your  tears  ?  I'll  fling  the 


REDBANK.  307 

old  book  away,  if  you  are  going  to  spoil  your  eyes  over 
it." 

"  I  am  not  thinking  of  '  Alton  Locke,'  "  she  replied ; 
"  there  are  sources  of  grief  nearer  home." 

"  Dear,  sweet  little  goose,"  he  said,  stooping  and  kiss 
ing  her,  "  I'm  not  worth  a  briny  jewel  from  those  glorious 
eyes.  Cheer  up !  I  expect  to  be  President  of  the  United 
States  in  a  few  years,  and  you  shall  preside  over  the 
White  House,  since  a  certain  young  lady  declines  the 
exalted  destiny.  So  do  come  and  have  a  joggle  with 
Lilian  and  me.  It  takes  at  least  three  to  make  it  real 
lively." 

"  No,  I  do  not  feel  like  it,  dear  ;  you  must  excuse  me 
to-night."  Soon  she  got  up  and  went  into  the  house. 
The  joggling  went  on  with  ever-increasing  hilarity.  As 
Jessie  listened  to  the  shouts  and  laughter,  she  wondered 
anew  at  the  strange  and  wayward  character  of  her 
brother,  and  her  heart  grew  sadder  and  sadder  with  a 
vague  dread  of  the  future. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

"  WELL,  Pet,  how  is  Lady  Coraline  to-day  ?  "  asked 
Harry  as  Lilian  entered  the  back-parlor,  one  afternoon, 
with  her  doll  in  her  arms. 

"  She  is  not  at  all  well,"  said  the  child,  assuming  a 
very  solemn  air ;  "  she  has  the  mumps  and  the  measles 
and  scarlet>fever." 

"What!  all  three?" 

"  Yes,"  the  little  mother  answered. 

"  Why,  that  is  a  dreadful  complication  !  Bring  her 
here  and  let  me  see  her.  It  is  well  that  I'm  a  first-rate 
doctor,  isn't  it  ?  "  he  said. 

Lilian  assented  with  a  nod  of  the  head. 

The  young  man  felt  the  pulse  of  the  doll,  and  ex 
amined  her  arms  and  neck  with  care. 

"  Yes,"  he  finally  said,  "  she  is  very  ill — there  is  really 
occasion  for  anxiety.  You  must  put  her  to  bed  imme 
diately.  It  will  not  do  for  you  to  drag  her  around 
through  the  cold,  damp  halls." 

"  Can  I  put  her  to  bed  in  here  ?  "  asked  the  child ; 
"  I  don't  want  to  go  upstairs  to  play.  I  want  to  stay 
where  you  are." 

"  Oh  !  yes  ;  make  her  bed  there  on  the  end  of  the  sofa, 
and  I  will  prepare  some  medicine  for  her."  He  took  a 
little  bottle  of  homeopathic  pellets  from  his  pocket  and 
counted  out  six  of  them.  "  Here,  give  her  one  of  these 
every  half-hour,  and  bathe  her  head  with  cold  water. 
You  had  better  keep  a  wet  cloth  on  it  all  the  while." 


BEDBANK.  309 

For  ten  or  fifteen  'minutes,  Lilian  was  very  busy  fol 
lowing  his  directions.  She  undressed  the  doll,  made  a 
nice  bed  for  her  on  the  end  of  the  sofa,  gave  a  pill  as  pre 
scribed,  looking  at  the  clock  carefully  to  note  the  exact 
time  and  then  placed  a  damp  cloth  on  the  little  patient's 
head.  Harry  watched  her  as  she  went  through  the 
whole  performance  with  a  serious  air  of  maternal 
solicitude.  He  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  watch  her. 
It  was  pouring  rain,  so  no  one  could  get  oat  of  the 
house,  and  his  paper-back  novel  did  not  interest  him. 
Jessie  came  into  the  room  after  a  time,  and,  seating  her 
self  at  the  piano,  began  to  play  some  solemn  kind  of 
music  which  formed  a  good  accompaniment  to  the  rain 
that  was  driving  violently  against  the  window-panes. 
Harry  rocked  lazily  backwards  and  forwards  before  the 
fire  ;  it  was  comfortable  to  have  a  roof  over  one's  head 
on  such  a  day — comfortable  to  have  a  blazing  fire  and 
a  rocking-chair — comfortable  to  have  nothing  to  do  but 
watch  the  beautiful  child  as  she  moved  noiselessly  around 
the  bed  of  the  sick  doll.  When  her  motherly  attendance 
was  at  an  end,  she  came  and  stood  beside  Harry's  chair  ; 
he  put  out  his  arm  and  drew  her  to  him. 

"  My  darling,  do  you  love  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  threw  her  arms  impulsively  around  his  neck — 
"  Better  than  anybody  in  the  whole  world,"  she  said 
with  emphasis. 

"  That  is  right — I  want  somebody  to  love  me  just  that 
way — better  than  anyone  else  in  the  whole  world."  She 
smoothed  back  the  hair  from  his  high,  white  brow,  and 
kissed  him  again  and  again. 

"  And  are  you  going  to  love  me  always  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Always  !  always  !  as  long  as  I  live,"  she  replied. 

"  Even  if  I  go  away  ?  " 

"  Don't  I  always  love  you  when  you  go  away  ?  "  she 


310  REDBANK. 

said,  a  little  reproachfully ;  "  and  don't  I  love  you  when 
you  come  back  ?  Nobody  is  ever  so  glad  to  see  you  as 
I  am." 

"  That  is  true,"  he  replied. 

"  And  when  you  are  gone,  I  don't  forget  you  either. 
Every  night  when  I  say  my  prayers,  I  always  say, 
'  God  bless  Uncle  Hal  and  bring  him  back  again !  ' 
And  I  say  it  over  twice,  to  be  very  sure  that  God  hears 
me.  You  know  He  might  be  listening  to  some  other 
little  girl's  prayer,  and  not  hear  me  the  first  time." 

"  Yes,"  he  whispered,  "  always  say  it  over  twice,  and 
then  He  will  know  that  you  are  really  in  earnest." 

Again  she  kissed  him. 

"  But,  darling,  if  I  went  away  and  never  came  back 
any  more,  do  you  think  you  could  go  on  loving  me 
always  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Always !  always  !  "  she  said,  emphatically ;  "  but  you 
will  come  back,  I  know.  You  must  come  back." 

"  Why  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Because  I  could  not  bear  it ! — to  have  you  never  come 
back  any  more."  And  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes. 
"  You  will  come  back — won't  you  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,"  he  answered ;  "  if  you  want  me  very  much. 
We  will  see  about  that." 

"  But  when  are  you  going." 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  yet,"  he  said,  a  little  absently. 

She  nestled  her  head  close  up  to  his,  and  began  to  cry 
very  softly.  He  took  her  into  his  lap. 

"  There — that  will  not  do,  at  all — you  must  not  cry. 
Go  and  see  about  Lady  Coraline.  It  is  time  to  give  her 
another  pill.  She  will  require  very  careful  nursing,  you 
know,  for  she  is  very  ill." 

The  child  dried  her  eyes  with  the  end  ,of  her  apron, 
got  down  from  his  lap,  and  went  to  the  sofa  where  the 


liEVBANK.  311 

doll  lay.  Soon  she  exclaimed,  "  Lady  Coraline  is  ever 
so  much  better,  Uncle  Hal ;  she  says  her  head  does  not 
ache  a  bit  now.  I'm  sure  her  fever  is  going  off." 

"  I  think  so,"  he  replied.     "  Give  her  another  pill." 

When  the  directions  had  been  followed,  she  returned 
and  got  into  his  lap  again.  Jessie,  from  her  seat  at  the 
piano,  could  hear  them  talking  softly  to  each  other  as 
they  rocked  back  and  forth.  She  was  accustomed  to  see 
them  play  in  this  manner ;  but,  somehow,  to-day  their 
words  made  a  deep  impression  upon  her,  and  her  heart 
felt  unutterably  sad  as  she  struck  the  chords  of  the 
Sonata  Pathetique.  Just  then  the  Colonel  entered  the 
back-door,  and  went  storming  through  the  hall.  He  had 
not  been  able  to  find  his  umbrella,  and  had  got  wet  in 
his  journey  to  the  stable.  He  declared  emphatically 
that  he  would  break  a  certain  good-for-nothing  fellow's 
head,  if  the  said  individual  did  not  stop  meddling  with 
his  possessions. 

"  How  cross  father  is  to-day  ! "  said  Lilian,  snuggling 
up  closer  still  to  Uncle  Hal. 

"  Never  mind,"  was  the  reply,  "  it  is  all  on  account  of 
cotton.  The  price  is  down  and  is  going  lower  still  every 
day.  He  made  a  mistake  in  not  selling  when  the  price 
was  up.  It  is  enough  to  make  him  cross." 

"  Have  you  had  the  umbrella,  Hal?"  asked  Jessie. 

"  No,  my  dear ;  I  never  use  an  umbrella.  I  do  not 
consider  my  cranium  too  sacred  to  be  rained  upon." 

The  storm  continued  without  abatement.  It  had  now 
lasted  for  several  days,  and'had  been  increasing  in  vio 
lence  each  day.  Jessie  played  throughout  the  long  dull 
afternoon,  and  Harry  and  Lilian  seemed  to  fall  asleep 
in  the  deep  comfortable  rocking-chair  before  the  fire. 
Towards  night  there  was  a  slight  lull  in  the  storm  ;  the 
rain  fell  more  gently,  as  if  the  end  were  near  at  hand. 


812  REDBANK. 

At  the  supper-table,  the  Colonel  expressed  himself  as 
glad,  very  glad,  that  there  were  some  indications  of 
clearing. 

"  I  have  felt  a  little  anxious  about  the  mill,"  he 
remarked ;  "  the  fall  of  water  has  been  very  great  in 
the  last  three  days.  Peyton  tells  me  that  all  the  streams 
are  up  higher  than  he  has  ever  known  them.  It  is 
almost  impossible  to  get  to  the  Quarter — the  branch  is 
like  a  river.  I  do  hope  it  is  over  now.  I'm  glad  that 
nothing  is  planted  yet  awhile." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  we  have  had  a  great  deal  of  rain 
this  winter — more  than  usual,  have  we  not?  "  said  Jessie. 

"I  don't  know  about  that.  The  storms  have  con 
tinued  longer,  perhaps,  but  I  don't  suppose  the  actual 
rain-fall  has  been  much  greater,"  replied  the  Colonel. 

"  I  never  in  my  life  saw  it  rain  harder  than  it  has  done 
this  afternoon,"  said  Mrs.  Winston.  "  It  has  made  me 
very  restless  and  nervous." 

"  It  affected  me  in  the  same  way,"  remarked  Jessie  ; 
"  I  have  felt  quite  wretched.  I  hope  it  is  over  at  last." 

"  Now  it  has  been  delightfully  soothing  to  me,"  de 
clared  Harry.  "  Pet  and  I  have  had  a  charming  nap  in 
the  big  rocking-chair,  haven't  we,  darling  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  I  don't  like  the  rain,"  replied  the    child. 

"  Well,  I  have  been  thinking  about  the  mill  the  whole 
afternoon,"  said  the  Colonel. 

"  Then,  you  had  better  send  down  right  away,  and 
see  if  everything  is  right,"  Mrs.  Winston  answered,  in 
a  tone  which  showed  that  she  shared  his  anxiety. 

"  iVill  go  for  you,  sir,"  said  Harry.  Now,  it  always 
annoyed  the  Colonel  to  be  obliged  to  accept  any  favor 
from  his  brother-in-law.  He  generally  treated  the  young 
man  with  lordly  indifference  ;  and,  without  even  look 
ing  up  from  his  plate  or  even  expressing  any  thanks  for 


REDBANK.  313 

the  offer,  he  coldly  replied — u  I  do  not  think  I  need  your 
services  in  the  least.  Old  Burch  has  a  little  intelli 
gence,  and  I  imagine  he  will  know  how  to  manage  the 
gates,  if  the  pond  is  too  full." 

"  Well,  for  my  part,  I  have  a  very  poor  opinion  of 
Mr.  Burch's  intelligence,"  said  Mrs.  Winston.  "  To 
me  he  seems  slow  and  stupid.  If  you  have  any  anxiety 
whatever  about  the  mill,  do  let  Harry  ride  down  and 
see  about  it.  There  is  a  lull  now,  and  he  can  get  back 
by  bed-time." 

"I  am  at  your  service,"  the  young  man  remarked. 
"  I  don't  profess  to  have  any  great  amount  of  intelli 
gence,  but  what  I  have  is  at  your  disposal." 

The  Colonel  did  not  like  this  speech — he  seldom  liked 
any  speech  of  Harry's,  and  answered  rather  haughtily  : 

"  If  I  should  ever  happen  to  want  your  services,  I  will 
let  you  know." 

The  young  man  colored  slightly,  but  made  no  re 
sponse. 

"  Well,  I  do  not  believe  that  the  rain  is  over  yet," 
said  Mrs.  Winston,  "  and  it  seems  very  foolish  to  run 
any  risks  with  the  mill.  The  pond  must  be  very  full 
now,  and  if  it  begins  to  rain  again  there  may  be  more 
danger  than  you  apprehend.  I  wish  you  would  let 
Harry  go." 

The  Colonel  was  silent,  and  no  one  else  seemed  dis 
posed  to  continue  the  conversation. 

After  they  had  arisen  from  the  table,  and  the  Colonel 
had  departed  to  the  library,  Harry  went  out  on  the 
piazza,  and  looked  at  the  sky.  When  he  re-entered,  he 
said,  carelessly,  "  The  rain  is  not  over  yet.  There  is  a 
very  ugly-looking  cloud  rising  in  the  south-east.  We 
shall  probably  have  a  thunder-storm.  Listen !  that's 
thunder  now." 


314  REDBANK. 

Yes,  it  was  muttering  far  away  in  the  distance.  Jes 
sie  and  her  brother  went  into  the  back-parlor  as  usual. 

"  Play  for  me,  Jessie,"  said  the  young  man  ;  and  she 
again  went  to  the  piano,  glad  to  drive  away  the  painful 
thoughts  that  were  oppressing  her  heart. 

The  storm  came  on  slowly — a  faint  flash  of  lightning 
now  and  then,  and  a  low  rumble  of  thunder.  Eleanor 
had  carried  off  Lilian  to  the  nursery  to  be  put  to  bed, 
and  the  house  was  very  still.  Within  an  hour,  the  rain 
began  to  fall  again — the  storm  was  gathering  force. 
Soon  blinding  sheets  of  water  descended.  The  wind 
arose  and  drove  it  violently  against  the  house,  and  the 
crash  of  thunder  overhead  became  more  and  more  ter 
rific. 

At  bed-time,  the  brother  and  sister  went  upstairs, 
kissing  each  other  in  silence  at  the  head  of  the  steps. 
On  entering  her  room,  Jessie  threw  off  her  dress,  and 
put  on  a  wrapper;  then,  seating  herself  in  front  of  the 
fire,  she  began  to  read.  She  knew  that  she  would  not 
be  able  to  sleep,  if  she  went  to  bed ;  a  strange,  restless 
feeling  possessed  her.  The  wind  was  now  blowing  a 
perfect  gale,  and  peal  after  peal  of  thunder  rent  the  air. 
This  continued  for  an  hour  or  two.  It  seemed  even 
longer  to  Jessie  as  she  sat  in  the  loneliness  of  her  room. 

Suddenly  she  heard  a  soft  step  on  the  stairs.  She 
listened  intently.  Some  one  went  to  Harry's  room  and 
knocked.  The  knock  was  repeated  several  times  before 
he  was  aroused.  Jessie  moved  quietly  to  her  own  door, 
and,  opening  it,  listened  almost  breathless.  Yes,  it 
was  Eleanor,  and  the  girl  guessed  her  mission  ! 

Eleanor  was  standing  motionless  at  the  end  of  the 
upper  hall,  waiting  to  speak  to  Harry.  "  Yes,  in  a 
minute,"  he  called  from  his  room. 

Soon  he  came  to  the  door  and  opened  it.     He  had 


EEDliANK.  315 

been  asleep,  and  now  was  only  half  dressed,  and  looked 
wild  and  tumbled.  "  What  is  it,  Eleanor  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  1 1  any  dear,"  she  said,  "  I  am  so  sorry  to  disturb  you, 
but  do  you  think  you  could  get  to  the  mill  in  this  awful 
storm?  The  Colonel  is  half  crazy — he  is  sure  every 
thing  will  be  swept  away,  if  the  rain  continues  much 
longer.  It  seems  terrible  to  think  of  your  going  out, 
but  you  know,  dear,  we  would  be  utterly  ruined  if  any 
thing  were  to  happen  to  the  mill." 

"  I  understand,"  said  the  young  man  ;  "  yes,  I  think 
I  can  get  there — I'll  try  anyway.  I  will  put  on  my 
clothes  and  be  down  in  a  minute.  Get  the  lantern  for 
me,  please,  and  a  rubber  coat — mine  is  in  the  hall-closet 
downstairs.  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost."  He  closed 
the  door  and  Eleanor  descended  the  steps.  When,  at 
the  end  of  a  few  moments,  he  came  out  in  the  hall, 
Jessie  sprang  forward  to  meet  him. 

"  Oh  !  Harry,  please  don't  go  !  "  she  said,  in  a  beseech 
ing  tone  ;  "  it  is  an  awful  night — I  am  sure  something 
dreadful  will  happen  to  you,  dear." 

He  looked  at  her  with  a  flash  of  determination  in  his 
eyes, — "  Eleanor  has  asked  me  to  go,  and  I  am  going," 
he  said;  "  it  is  not  much  that  I  can  do  for  her,  and  she 
has  done  a  great  deal  for  me." 

"  But,  Harry,  darling,  you  are  risking  your  life. 
Please,  don't  go." 

"  My  life  is  not  worth  much,"  he  answered ;  "  it  is 
only  fit  for  a  bad  job  like  this."  And  again  his  eyes 
gleamed  with  a  fierce  purpose. 

Jessie's  face  was  ghastly  white  as  she  turned  it  up  to 
her  brother's  and  implored  him.  "  Harry,  don't  go ! 
The  Colonel  refused  your  offer  at  supper-time, — it  is  not 
fair  to  send  you  now.  Only  listen  to  the  thunder ! 
and  the  rain  is  fearful !  Don't  go,  Harry  !  "  And  she 
hung  upon  his  arm. 


316  EEDBANK. 

He  bent  down  and  kissed  her.  "  Good-bye.  Kiss  Lil 
ian  for  me  and  don't  let  her  forget  me,"  he  whispered. 

"  Oh  !  Harry  !  Only  listen  to  the  storm — don't  go  ! 
don't  go,  darling." 

Gently  he  loosened  her  hold  upon  him. 

"  I  must,  Jessie,"  he  said,  and  hurried  down  the  steps. 

Eleanor  met  him  and  gave  him  the  lantern,  and 
helped  him  put  on  the  rubber  boots  and  coat.  "  Come 
back  as  soon  as  you  can,"  she  said. 

• "  I  will.  Now  go  to  bed — I'll  do  all  I  can,  you  may 
be  sure."  He  opened  the  outside  door  ;  a  blinding  gust 
of  wind  and  rain  blew  in.  He  staggered  for  a  moment, 
but,  grasping  the  lantern  firmly  and  gathering  his  coat 
around  him,  he  closed  the  door  and  was  gone.  Jessie 
heard  it  all.  She  went  back  softly  to  her  room,  threw 
herself  upon  her  knees,  burying  her  face  in  her  hands. 
This,  then,  was  the  end.  She  had  not  thought  that  it 
was  so  near  at  hand. 

On  leaving  the  house,  Harry  Holcombe  went  im 
mediately  to  the  stable  and  saddled  his  horse.  "  Come, 
Dandy,  we  are  in  for  it  now,"  he  said,  as  he  mounted 
and  dashed  off  in  the  blinding  rain ;  he  held  his  lantern 
far  above  his  head,  for  the  darkness  was  intense.  Down 
the  red  lane  he  plunged.  He  must  go  to  the  Quarter 
and  get  Mose  to  accompany  him.  Mose  was  a  power 
ful  negro,  almost  a  giant  in  size  and  strength  ;  he  had 
always  had  the  care  of  the  mill  until  a  few  months  ago, 
when  the  Colonel  had  displaced  him  on  account  of 
some  suspicion  of  dishonesty.  For  a  Avhile,  Harry  had 
overlooked  him,  but  the  young  man  had  not  found  the 
business  at  all  to  his  mind,  and  had  thrown  it  up.  He 
and  the  negro  were  much  attached  to  each  other,  and 
he  knew  that  Mose  would  follow  him  through  thunder 
and  tempest. 


REDBANK.  317 

The  brook  over  which  he  had  helped  Lilian  on  that 
day,  so  long  ago,  was  now  raging  wildly  across  the 
lane.  It  had  swept  away  the  log  that  had  served  for 
a  bridge,  torn  up  the  fences,  and  spread  havoc  all 
around. 

The  young  man  buried  his  spurs  into  the  dripping 
flanks  of  the  horse  and  plunged  in ;  after  a  desperate 
struggle  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  the  panting  animal 
landed  his  rider  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  on  they 
dashed  again.  When  he  reached  the  Quarter,  Harry 
pulled  up  in  front  of  Mose's  cabin,  and  kicked  with  all 
his  might  against  the  door,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice, 

"  Mose !  Mose !  wake  up !  " 

In  a  few  moments,  the  negro  was  at  the  door. 

"  De  Lord  hab  marcy  'pon  me  !  What  is  de  matter, 
Marse  Harry  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Put  on  your  clothes  this  minute,  and  come  with  me 
to  the  mill ! " 

"  De  gracious  Lord  !  I  don't  want  to  go  out  in  dis 
storm,"  said  the  negro,  rolling  his  eyes  until  nothing  but 
the  whites  could  be  seen. 

"  I  don't  care  whether  you  want  to  go  or  not ;  you 
are  going.  Do  you  suppose  I  like  it  any  better  than 
you  do  ?  Come,  you've  got  a  mule,  haven't  you  ?  " 

Mose  hesitated,  reluctant  to  confess  that  he  owned 
such  a  piece  of  property. 

"  Yes,  dar  in  dat  out-house.  I'se  comin',  Marse 
Harry."  And  he  disappeared  in  his  cabin.  When  he 
came  out  he  was  enveloped  in  an  old  rubber  blanket 
with  a  hole  in  the  middle,  through  which  his  great  woolly 
head  was  thrust. 

"  That  will  do,"  said  Harry  ;  "  now  get  your  mule, 
quick  as  a  flash  of  lightning." 


318  tlEDBANK. 

The  negro  obeyed,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  two 
were  moving  along  rapidly  in  the  darkness. 

The  storm  grew  wilder  and  wilder  every  moment ;  the 
wind  went  rushing  through  the  trees,  snapping  off  the 
branches  and  hurling  them  madly  in  every  direction. 
The  glare  of  lightning  and  crash  of  thunder  was  almost 
continuous. 

"Marse  Harry,"  said  the  negro,  "I  do  declar'  dat  dis 
is  jes'  awful.  Did  ole  marster  send  you  ? — 

"  That's  none  of  your  business,"  the  young  man  an 
swered,  "  we've  got  to  save  that  mill  if  possible." 

"  I'se  mighty  fear'd  dat  de  bridge  is  gone  by  dis  time  ; 
ef  dat's  de  case,  we  can't  never  git  cross  dat  creek 
— 'tain't  no  use  to  try." 

"  We'll  try  for  all  that,"  was  the  answer  ;  "  you  can 
do  what  I  can  do,  and  I  am  determined  to  save  that 
mill  in  spite  of  all  the  devils  out  to-night." 

Soon  they  heard  the  roar  of  the  dam  above  the  noise 
of  the  tempest,  and  Mose  exclaimed  : 

"  Well,  de  mill  ain't  gone  yet,  nohow,  case  I  hears 
de  water  fallin'  over  de  dam.  Marse  Harry,  'tain't  my 
opinion  dat  Ole  Burch  knows  anything  't  all  'bout  man- 
agin'  dat  mill  'cept  de  grindin'  of  de  corn.  He  ain't 
got  much  sense  anyways." 

Harry  made  no  response  to  these  remarks,  but  rode 
on  in  silence.  When  the  creek  was  reached,  he  held 
his  lantern  aloft  and  uttered  an  exclamation  of  relief. 
The  bridge  was  still  standing,  though  the  water  was 
rushing  on  both  sides  of  the  rustic  structure,  far  out  of 
the  natural  banks  of  the  creek.  The  riders  both  dashed 
boldly  in ;  the  water  was  not  very  deep  nor  the  current 
strong,  and  the  good  animals  bore  them  safely  across, 
and  then  scrambled  up  the  muddy  slope  to  the  miller's 
house.  There  was  not  a  sign  of  life  to  be  seen  any- 


&EDBANK.  319 

where — no  light  within  the  rude  dwelling  ;  the  stupid 
old  miller  was  in  bed  and  asleep,  unmindful  of  the  dan 
ger  that  threatened  his  home  and  family.  The  raging 
storm,  the  rising  water,  death  and  destruction,  were  not 
even  visions  of  unconscious  slumber.  Harry  felt  a  senti 
ment  of  pity  and  disgust  for  the  low  nature  that  could 
sleep  in  the  midst  of  such  awful  surroundings.  He  kicked 
loudly  against  the  house,  and  called  out  until  hoarse, 
but  it  was  long  before  he  could  arouse  Old  Burch. 

"  He  mus'  be  dead!  "  exclaimed  Mose,  more  than  once, 
before  a  frowsy  head  was  finally  thrust  through  the  half- 
open  door,  and  a  voice  demanded : 

"  What  under  hell  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Get  out  of  that  house  this  minute,  you  confounded 
old  sinner,"  shouted  Harry  ;  "  the  pond  is  rising  an  inch 
a  minute ;  for  heaven's  sake  come  and  help  us,  or  every 
thing  will  be  washed  away.  How  under  the  sun  could 
you  go  to  bed  such  a  night  as  this  ?  Haven't  you  sense 
enough  to  know  that  the  mill  is  in  danger,  and  your  old 
carcass,  too  ?  Come,  right  away !  Have  you  opened 
a  single  one  of  the  gates  ?  " 

The  old  man  looked  dazed,  and  confessed  that  he  had 
not.  He  had  retired  to  rest  before  the  storm  began,  and 
had  been  sleeping  so  soundly  that  he  had  heard  nothing. 

"  Have  you  got  any  brandy  in  there  ?  "  asked  Harry. 

"  Not  a  drop,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  have  your  wife  get  right  up  and  make  us  some 
strong  coffee ;  we  are  wet  and  cold,  and  tired." 

The  three  men  were  soon  in  the  mill  at  work  over  the 
gates.  The  water  of  the  pond  dashed  with  such  vio 
lence  against  the  sides  of  the  building  that  it  swayed 
back  and  forth  with  a  terrible  warning  motion.  They 
scarcely  hoped  to  save  it ;  the  water  was  already  two 
feet  deep  on  the  lower  floor.  They  found  the  gates 


320  &EDBANK. 

harder  to  move  than  they  had  anticipated,  for  the  flood- 
trash  had  gathered  in  a  heap  in  front  of  them,  and  the 
current  was  swift  and  strong  against  them.  At  length, 
Mose,  the  great  brawny  negro,  by  means  of  his  ponder 
ous  strength,  succeeded  in  raising  three  of  them,  and 
the  water  dashed  madly  through,  relieving  the  immense 
pressure  against  the  sides  of  the  mill-house.  They  gave 
themselves  no  rest,  even  when  this  was  accomplished 
with  crowbars  and  beams  they  worked  on  for  another 
half-hour,  until  two  other  gates  were  raised.  The  three 
men  were  utterly  exhausted  by  this  time,  and  Harry 
sent  Burch  for  the  coffee,  which  they  all  drank  with 
eagerness,  finding  themselves  warmed  and  refreshed  by 
the  smoking  beverage. 

The  storm  had  now  begun  to  abate  ;  the  wind  had 
fallen,  and  the  thunder  was  rolling  away  in  the  distance, 
proclaiming  that  the  battle  was  ended  and  the  forces 
withdrawn  ;  the  rain  was  falling  with  a  soft  patter  as  if 
its  strength  was  spent.  Harry  threw  himself  down 
upon  a  high  pile  of  grain  bags,  out  of  reach  of  the  water, 
which  had  now  almost  disappeared  from  the  floor  of  the 
building.  He  was  very  tired,  and  quite  ready  to  rest 
a  while,  and  thought  of  his  good  bed  at  home  and 
heaps  of  soft  blankets  with  a  longing  heart.  Mose  ap 
proached  his  young  master  and  lay  down  quietly  at  his 
feet. 

"  Well,  old  fellow,  this  hasn't  been  a  bad  night's 
work,  has  it  ?  "  asked  Harry,  slapping  the  negro  on  the 
back.  Despite  the  difference  in  color,  there  was  a  pleas 
ant  camaraderie  between  them,  and  each  had  great  re 
spect  for  the  good  qualities  of  the  other. 

Mose  laughed  and  said,  "  Marse  Harry,  I  tell  you 
what,  you'se  got  a  heap  o'  grit.  I'd  never  hab  come 
froo  dem  dark  woods  an'  cross  dat  yonder  creek,  ef  you 


EEDBANK.  321 

hadn'  bin  wid  me.  To  tell  you  de  truf,  I  don't  like  to 
go  out  sich  nights  as  dis.  I'd  a  heap  radder  be  at  home 
in  bed,  kivered  up  warm." 

"Is  that  so?  "  asked  Harry  with  a  laugh.  "Now, 
Mose,  I  thought  you  were  a  very  brave  fellow — ready  for 
anything.  I  brought  you  along  purposely  to  take  care 
of  me.  After  all,  it  wasn't  much  worse  than  a  'possum 
hunt." 

"  Bless  de  good  Lord,  Marse  Harry,  you  donno  what 
you'se  talkin'  'bout ;  a  possum  hunt  is  jes'  fun,  an'  dere 
sartinly  wasn't  much  fun  'bout  dat  ride — 'twas  a  rale 
tarnation  ride." 

"  Well,  it  wasn't  very  lively,  that's  the  truth,  Mose, 
and  I'm  glad  it  is  over.  I  wish  I  was  back  again  at 
home  in  bed.  Go,  bring  us  a  little  more  coffee,  Burch, 
and  then  I'll  start." 

"  Why,  Marse  Harry,  you  isn't  gwine  to  start  back 
'fore  day,  is  you  ?  "  asked  the  negro,  rolling  his  eyes 
with  an  expression  of  alarm  and  horror. 

"  I  am  that,"  said  the  young  man  ;  "  the  Colonel  will 
want  to  know  that  everything  is  all  right,  and  there  is 
no  use  staying  here  now.  You  can  remain  and  attend  to 
things — you  understand  the  business  thoroughly.  You 
can  let  the  water  run  off  till  day,  perhaps ;  then  you 
had  better  close  the  gates.  You  don't  want  the  pond  to 
get  too  low,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  sar,"  replied  .Mose,  "  I  k'nows  all  'bout  it,  and 
I'll  tend  to  it  all  right.  Fur  my  part,  I'se  glad  to  stay 
here.  I  thinks  you  had  better  stay,  too,  Marse  Harry." 

"  No,  I'm  wet  and  cold,  and  I  had  better  get  home  as 
soon  as  possible.  I'm  not  as  tough  as  you  are,  Mose, 
and  this  night's  work  may  cost  me  a  spell  of  sickness. 
I  feel  as  if  I  had  a  chill  now." 

"  You'd   better  go  to  old   Burch's  house  and  warm 


322  REDBANK. 

yourself,  Marse  Harry,  an'  git  some  dry  clothes,"  said 
the  negro. 

The  young  man  laughed.  "  I  hardly  think  his  clothes 
would  fit  me,  and  I'm  sure  I  would  not  like  to  try  them. 
And  I  don't  feel  like  invading  his  private  sanctum. 
No,  I  had  better  go  back  home  ;  the  storm  is  over." 

By  this  time  the  rain  had  entirely  ceased.  Harry 
went  to  the  door  and  looked  out.  Yes,  the  clouds  were 
breaking  away  in  the  west,  and  a  few  pale  stars  were 
shining  dimly  through  their  ragged  edges.  He  pulled 
out  his  watch  and  looked  at  it.  "Three  o'clock,"  he 
said ;  "  why,  I  shall  have  time  to  get  back  home  and 
have  a  good  nap  before  breakfast." 

"  I  declar',  'fore  de  Lord,  I  wouldn't  go  ef  I  was  you," 
said  the  negro  ;  "  dat  creek  must  be  a  sight  higher  dan 
'twas  'fore  we  crossed  it,  Marse  Harry.  We'se  let  off  a 
heap  o'  water  from  out'n  dis  mill-pond.  I  wish  you 
wouldn't  go,  Marse  Harry.  'Tain't  safe,  'cordin'  to  my 
'pinion." 

"Pshaw!  the  water  has  run  off  by  this  time.  The 
bridge  is  still  standing — I  can  see  the  white  railing. 
Besides,  Dandy  can  swim  like  a  fish." 

Just  at  this  moment,  Burch  brought  the  hot  coffee, 
and  Harry  drank  several  cups  of  it.  "  I  wish  to  good 
ness  you  had  some  whiskey,  Burch,"  he  said ;  "  are  you 
sure  you  cannot  find  a  drop  in  your  house  ?  Here,  I 
will  pay  you  well  for  it,"  and  he  put  his  hand  into  his 
pocket  and  drew  out  some  shining  quarters. 

The  man  shook  his  head.  "  Not  a  darned  drop !  "  he 
replied ;  "  I  drank  the  very  last  glass  just  now,"  and  he 
laughed. 

"You  confounded  old  cheat !  "  exclaimed  Harry.  "  If 
you  had  only  let  me  have  it,  I  might  have  been  saved  from 
this  chill  that  is  on  me.  Go  to  the  devil  this  minute." 

21 


EEDBANK.  323 

The  man  laughed  as  he  turned  away,  and  Mose,  too, 
chuckled  at  the  clever  trick.  "  I  thought  you  asked 
for  brandy,"  said  Burch ;  "  I  ain't  had  none  of  that 
truck  in  my  house  for  many  a  year." 

"  You  know  well  enough  what  I  meant,"  replied 
I  larry ;  "  you  are  a  confounded  brute,  not  fit  to  live. 
Get  out  of  my  sight !  " 

In  spite  of  the  ague  that  had  seized  him,  he  felt 
happy  and  elated  to  have  accomplished  the  task  that 
Eleanor  had  given  him.  It  would  be  good  news  to  carry 
back  to  her  that  he  had  saved  the  mill.  He  was  not 
utterly  good-for-nothing;  there  were  times  when  his 
courage  and  determination  came  in  "  pretty  handy,"  as 
the  negroes  say.  Perhaps  Alice  Brooks  might  hear  of 
what  he  had  done,  and  feel  a  pang  of  regret  that  she 
had  cast  away  his  love  so  coldly.  These  thoughts  filled 
his  heart. 

"  Go  and  bring  my  horse  immediately,  Mose,"  he  said, 
staggering  to  his  feet. 

The  negro  obeyed  ;  but  when  he  saw  his  young  mas 
ter  mount  into  the  saddle,  he  gave  utterance  to  another 
protest. 

"  Marse  Harry,  I  wish  you  wouldn't  go.  It's  mos' 
day  now,  an'  I  declar',  'fore  God,  I  don't  think  you'se 
fitten  to  swim  dat  creek."  Harry  laughed  in  his  usual 
light  way. 

"  I've  done  worse  things  than  that,  Mose,  and  I'll  do 
them  again.  Good-bye,  I'll  see  you  in  the  morning. 
You  shall  be  well  paid,  old  fellow,  for  this  night's  job,  if 
I  have  to  bankrupt  myself  to  meet  the  claim." 

"  I'se  not  de  least  bit  fear'd  'bout  dat ;  you'se  always 
a  gentleman,  Marse  Harry.  Nobody  knows  dat  better'n 
I  do."  Mose  stood  and  watched  him  until  he  disap 
peared  in  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  day  dawned  gray  and  cold  and  cheerless.  Jessie 
Holcombe  awaked  from  her  troubled  sleep  with  a  deep 
feeling  of  utter  wretchedness.  She  looked  at  the  clock 
— it  was  late — almost  breakfast>time.  She  hurriedly 
threw  on  a  dressing-gown,  and  went  to  Harry's  door, 
and  rapped  several  times  ;  there  was  no  answer,  and  she 
softly  turned  the  bolt,  hoping  to  find  "him  in  bed  and 
asleep.  He  was  not  there ;  everything  was  just  as  he 
had  left  it  the  night  before,  and  she  smiled  sadly  at  the 
signs  of  his  carelessness  all  around.  With  a  sickening 
sense  of  loss,  she  returned  to  her  room  and  finished  dress 
ing.  As  the  last  garment  was  hastily  put  on,  she  heard 
the  breakfast-bell  ringing  in  the  distance.  It  died  away 
like  an  echo.  The  house  was  unnaturally  still;  not 
even  from  the  nursery,  where  the  baby  and  Lilian  were 
accustomed  to  noisy  romps  every  morning,  did  there 
come  the  faintest  sound  of  life. 

When  Jessie  entered  the  dining-room,  the  Colonel 
and  Eleanor  were  both  already  there,  looking  much  as 
usual ;  a  bright  fire  was  burning  on  the  hearth,  and  the 
girl  approached  it  with  a  feeling  of  relief.  The  flames 
went  roaring  and  crackling  up  the  chimney,  like  a  lively 
household  god  whose  presence  is  potent  to  dispel  all 
gloomy  forebodings. 

"  Well,  good-morning,  Jessie,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  you 
are  a  late  bird,  it  seems  to  me.  I  have  been  up  ever  so 


EEDBANK.  325 

long ;  I  have  been  down  to  the  mill  and  everything  is 
all  right — that  is,  as  far  as  I  could  judge.  The  water 
was  up  tremendously  high  last  night ;  I  could  plainly 
see  the  line  on  the  house,  but  the  gates  had  been  opened 
and  the  pond  was  Avell  down.  I  did  not  attempt  to  cross 
the  bridge,  for  the  water  is  very  high  on  this  side  of  it. 
It  has  torn  away  the  banks  for  fifty  feet  at  least,  and 
the  whole  force  of  the  current  is  sweeping  across  the 
road.  I'm  glad  of  it,  for  the  bridge  is  safe,  and  I  sha'n't 
have  to  rebuild  that.  A  few  wagon-loads  of  dirt  will 
repair  the  bank.  I'm  a  good  deal  better  off  this  morning 
than  I  expected  to  be  last  night  at  bed-time.  I  was  sure 
that  the  mill  would  go.  If  it  had  gone,  it  would  be  all 
over  with  us,  Eleanor.  It  is  just  as  much  as  I  can  do  to 
keep  my  head  above  the  water  now.  I  feel  immensely 
relieved." 

"Has  Harry  returned  yet?"  asked  the  girl. 

"  No,  not  yet ;  he  probably  stayed  to  breakfast  at  the 
miller's  ;  he  must  have  been  tired  out.  Reuben  told  me 
that  he  stopped  at  the  Quarter  last  night,  and  got 
Mose  and  took  him  along.  Mose  wasn't  back  either, 
when  Reuben  left  the  Quarter.  I  suppose  we  shall  have 
a  full  report  from  Harry  and  Mose  both  in  the  course  of 
an  hour  or  two.  It  may  be  even  longer  than  that  before 
they  can  get  across  the  creek." 

When  the  meal  was  ended,  Jessie  went  to  her  room 
and  seated  herself  at  the  window  which  overlooked  the 
long  avenue.  Her  heart  was  still  sick  and  heavy.  She 
took  up  the  dainty  heap  of  Eleanor's  shawl  and  tried  to 
find  some  interest  in  the  delicate  crochet-work,  but  all 
in  vain  ;  her  eyes  wandered  from  the  white  meshes.  She 
was  looking  and  waiting  for  the  gallant  young  horse 
man  who  had  so  often  come  galloping  up  the  road  to 
Redbank. 


3'2G  EEDBANK. 

The  morning  wore  slowly  away.  The  sun  had  come 
out  at  last,  and  the  vapor  was  lazily  ascending  from  the 
damp  earth  to  join  the  great  masses  of  gray  clouds 
that  floated  overhead.  Jessie  was  growing  more  and 
more  impatient  every  moment.  She  felt  that  she  must 
go  down  and  inquire  if  any  news  had  come,  and  was 
folding  up  her  work,  when  Lizzie  glided  into  the  room 
with  a  frightened  expression  upon  her  face. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Lizzie  ?  "  exclaimed  Jessie  with 
white,  dry  lips ;  "  you  look  as  if  something  had  happened. 
Tell  me  this  minute  ;  don't  you  see  I  cannot  wait." 

The  girl  hesitated,  and  then  said :  "  Uncle  Mose  is  down 
stairs  in  de  liberry  wid  ole  Marster,  an'  I'se  bin  listenin' 
at  de  door.  I'se  afear'd  dat  something  has  happened  to 
Marse  Harry,  Miss  Jessie.  Mose,  he  says,  dat  arter  dey 
had  saved  de  mill,  Marse  Harry,  he  'sisted  on  comin' 
right  back  home  to  tell  you  all,  and  Mose,  he's  a  fear'd 
that  Marse  Harry  is  drowned." 

Jessie  Holcombe  gave  a  piteous  groan,  and  buried  her 
face  in  her  hands.  The  negro  girl  stood  beside  her 
young  mistress,  silent  and  motionless.  She  had  the  fine 
instinct  of  her  race,  and  knew  that  it  was  useless  to 
speak  another  word,  or  offer  any  sympathy ;  she  knew 
also  that  her  presence  was  a  kind  of  mute  comfort, 
so  she  did  not  withdraw.  After  a  while,  Jessie  got  up, 
and  slowly  went  downstairs  to  the  library  j  but  there 
was  nothing  more  to  learn. 

The  Colonel  and  Eleanor  were  both  there  ;  they  had 
already  heard  the  tale  of  Mose  to  the  very  end,  but  the 
negro  repeated  it  all  to  the  young  lady,  telling  every 
thing  with  vivid  effect  in  his  homely  way,  from  the 
moment  he  had  been  aroused  by  the  kick  of  Marse  Harry 
against  his  door,  to  the  time  when  he  had  held  Dandy  by 


REDBANK.  327 

the  bridle,  and  seen  the  young  man  mount  and  ride 
away  in  the  darkness.  That  was  enough.  Who  could 
not  guess  the  dreadful  sequel  ? 

With  effort  Jessie  found  her  way  back  to  her  room, 
and  lay  down  upon  the  bed.  She  heard  the  Colonel  in 
his  high  sharp  voice  giving  orders  to  the  group  of 
negro  men  who  had  collected  in  the  yard,  and  she  knew 
well  that  they  were  going  out  to  begin  the  search.  She 
heard  the  old  spring-wagon  rattle  down  the  avenue.  A 
dull  pain  seized  her — head-ache  and  heart-ache  in  one ; 
but  she  could  not  weep  a  single  tear. 

At  dinner-time,  Lizzie  brought  her  a  cup  of  strong 
cofiec,  which  she  tried  to  drink  in  response  to  the  mute 
entreaties  of  the  maid.  More  than  once  during  the  after 
noon  she  fell  into  a  troubled  sleep,  and  almost  imme 
diately  awoke  with  a  violent  start.  Would  the  long 
hours  of  this  awful  day  never,  never  pass  ? 

It  was  almost  night  when  she  heard  the  sound  of 
wheels  and  voices  at  the  front  door.  It  was  not  neces 
sary  to  arise,  and  go  downstairs,  and  ask  questions ;  she 
knew  perfectly  well  that  they  had  found  his  body,  and 
were  bringing  him  home.  Yes,  they  were  laying  him 
out  in  the  parlor,  and  busy  feet  were  moving  here  and 
there  over  the  house.  They  would  all  try  to  make  it 
comfortable  for  him  now — even  the  Colonel.  In  the 
midst  of  her  bitter  anguish,  she  felt  a  joy  and  pride  in 
what  her  brother  had  done.  It  was  a  noble  thing  to  ride 
out  at  midnight  in  the  wild  storm,  and  save  the  tottering 
mill,  and,  perhaps,  the  miller  and  his  family,  too  ;  and 
these  words  of  our  Saviour  came  into  her  mind, 
"  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay 
down  his  life  for  his  friends."  If  there  were  indeed 
merit  in  such  love,  Harry  might  wear  the  white  robe 
and  the  crown.  At  this  thought,  the  tears  began  to  flow 


o2o  REDBANK. 

softly  down  her  cheeks,  and  peace  and  comfort  came  to 
her  broken  heart. 

Another  hour  or  two  passed,  when  she  heard  the  knob 
of  her  door  gently  turn.  A  little  figure  glided  in,  and 
coming  close  up  to  the  bed,  whispered  faintly,  "  Aunty, 
are  you  asleep  ?  " 

"No,  darling,"  she  answered,  "what  is  it?" 

"  May  I  get  up  beside  you? " 

"  Yes,  dear." 

The  child  climbed  on  the  bed,  and  nestled  up  to  her. 
The  little  hands  were  very  cold,  and  the  breath  came  in 
quick  gasps  like  sobs.  Jessie  drew  the  blanket  over 
the  little  form,  and  clasped  it  to  her  own  heart.  "  What 
is  it,  darling  ?  "  she  asked  more  than  once,  but  Lilian 
gave  no  answer.  It  was  not  strange  that  she  was  mute 
and  cold — she  had  seen  them  bring  him  into  the  house, 
had  looked  upon  his  white  face,  and  knew  that  it  was 
her  Uncle  Hal.  No  one  was  thinking  of  her,  and  she 
had  stood  at  the  window  and  watched  it  all.  She  had 
heard  them  whisper  that  he  was  dead,  and  now  her  little 
heart  was  breaking.  She  knew  what  it  was  to  be  dead, 
for  she  had  seen  her  little  sister  years  ago  lying  still 
and  white  in  a  coffin,  and  they  had  covered  her  up  in 
the  ground;  she  knew  exactly  where  the  little  mound 
was  in  the  corner  of  the  garden  ;  she  had  often  looked  at 
it  with  a  strange  awe.  She  had  waited  at  first  for  the 
baby  sister  to  come  back  and  play  with  her  again.  This, 
then,  was  what  Uncle  Hal  meant  yesterday  when  he  had 
said  that  he  was  going  away,  and  might  never  return 
any  more.  Again  and  again  the  child  shivered  from 
head  to  foot,  and  violent  sobs  convulsed  her  delicate 
form. 

"  What  is  it,  darling  ?  What  is  it  ?  "  Jessie  asked, 
but  no  response  came. 


REDBANK.  829 

Lilian  only  nestled  closer  and  closer  up  to  the  young 
girl's  heart.  And  so  the  hours  passed  by,  and,  at  last, 
they  fell  asleep  in  each  other's  arms. 

The  next  morning  when  Jessie  awoke,  she  felt  calm 
and  strong,  and  equal  to  the  burden  that  had  fallen 
upon  her.  The  grand  words  of  the  poet  were  in  her 
heart  and  on  her  lips  : 

"  But,  peace  :  I  must  not  quarrel  with  the  will 
Of  higher  dispensation,  which  herein 
Haply  had  ends  above  my  reach  to  know." 

The  young  life  that  had  gone  out  so  suddenly  had, 
in  its  way,  been  noble  and  joyous,  and  worthy  to  be  re 
kindled  in  some  other  sphere. 

Who  could  tell  how  high  it  had  already  soared  above 
the  stars  ?  How  vain  and  presumptuous  it  is  for  us  to 
hold  the  scales  and  try  to  weigh  out  human  merit !  The 
heroic  deed  may  flash  from  some  despised  and  unknown 
source.  We  little  know  the  latent  force  in  human  souls ; 
then  let  us  lay  our  fingers  on  fault-finding  lips  and  wait 
the  end  before  we  call  any  man  great,  or  good,  or  happy. 

The  day  was  clear  and  beautiful,  and  the  young  girl 
stood  at  the  open  window  and  drank  in  great  draughts 
of  the  sweet  spring  air.  The  world  was  too  lovely  for 
grief ;  death  seemed  to  be  something  belonging  to  its 
sublime  order,  something  to  be  accepted  with  faith,  like 
the  darkness  of  night ;  something  which  would  be  under 
stood  in  the  fulness  of  time.  The  more  Jessie  thought 
of  Harry's  death,  the  more  she  schooled  herself  to  bear 
it  with  calmness  and  resignation.  It  was  surely  for  the 
best,  since  it  had  terminated  a  career  which  might  have 
moved  onward  into  deeper  suffering.  His  was  an  un 
tamed  nature,  which  would  always  have  fretted  itself 
against  restraint  and  the  severe  bondage  of  labor.  He 


330  HEDBANK. 

had  arrayed  himself  with  proud  defiance  against  the  fiat 
of  nature :  "  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat 
bread." 

Jessie  dreaded  to  meet  the  Colonel  and  Eleanor,  and 
lingered  as  long  as  possible  beside  the  open  window ; 
but  when  she  descended  they  greeted  her  tenderly,  each 
one  giving  her  a  good-morning  kiss.  The  Colonel  was 
white  and  subdued,  and  drank  his  coffee  in  silence  ; 
Eleanor  looked  old  and  gray,  and  wore  an  expression  of 
despair  that  pierced  Jessie  to  the  soul. 

After  breakfast,  as  the  girl  arose  to  leave  the  room, 
Eleanor  reached  out  her  hand  and  said,  "  Jessie,  don't 
go  upstairs  again,  please  ;  stay  with  me,  darling,  I  want 
to  talk  to  you.  I  feel  so  miserable  that  I  must  have 
you  near  me,  or  my  heart  will  break." 

They  went  together  into  the  back-parlor,  and  sat 
down,  side  by  side. 

"  Jessie,"  said  Eleanor,  "  I  shall  never,  never  forgive 
myself.  •  I  sent  him  out  in  the  storm — his  death  is  my 
work — I  have  killed  my  brother  !  It  is  no  use  to  deny 
it-^I  am  a  guilty  murderer." 

Her  eyes  were  full  of  unutterable  agony  as  she  slowly 
spoke  these  words. 

"  I  heard  you,  dear,  entreat  him  not  to  go  ;  one  word 
from  me  would  have  sent  him  back  to  bed  and  sleep, 
and  I  would  not  speak  it.  I  am  amazed  now  at  my  own 
hard-hearted  cruelty." 

Jessie  put  her  arm  lovingly  around  her  sister.  "  Well, 
dear,  it  is  all  over  now  and  cannot  be  helped.  You  must 
not  grieve  over  him  with  this  sting  of  remorse  in  your 
heart." 

"  I  cannot  help  it,  dear  child.  My  whole  life  is  made 
up  of  mistakes,  and  this  is  the  most  terrible  one  of  all. 
I  would  be  glad  to  die  this  moment,  if  I  could  only  undo 


REDBANK.  331 

the  work  of  that  night,  and  have  him  back  with  us 
again.  I  never  knew  before  how  well  I  loved  him. 
There  was  so  much  that  was  good  and  noble  in  him. — I 
always  felt  it,  and  I  kept  hoping  that  the  time  would  come 
when  some  kind  of  congenial  work  would  present  itself. 
He  was  not  lacking  in  energy, — it  was  a  purpose  that  he 
wanted,  a  noble  aim  in  life.  I  wish  that  Alice  Brooks 
had  consented  to  marry  him ;  she  might  have  made  a 
man  of  him  ;  but  I  suppose  I  have  no  right  to  blame  her 
for  preferring  her  cousin.  Oh  !  life  is  so  hard." 

"Eleanor,"  said  Jessie  in  a  sweet,  solemn  tone, 
"  you  find  it  hard,  because  you  have  no  faith.  If  you 
would  only  look  up  out  of  the  darkness  into  the  light !  " 

"  Where  is  the  light  ? "  she  asked,  helplessly ;  "  I 
cannot  see  it  dear." 

"  If  we  would  live  aright,  Eleanor,  we  must  believe  in 
the  loving  Father,  who  is  guiding  us.  When  we  place 
our  hand  in  His,  like  little  children,  we  can  walk  in 
safety,  but  not  till  then." 

"  But  I  cannot  find  His  hand,  it  does  not  reach  down 
to  me." 

"  Yes,  it  does,  dear,  perhaps  you  will  find  it  after 
awhile." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall,"  she  said  in  a  faint  voice ;  "  all 
these  sorrows  must  be  sent  for  some  purpose.  I  have 
been  so  proud  and  wilful  in  the  past,  perhaps  I  needed 
the  discipline.  My  spirit  is  utterly  broken  now." 

Jessie  could  not  reply  ;  she  was  weeping  softly. 

After  a  few  moments,  Eleanor  continued:  "Jessie, 
the  Colonel  feels  very  badly  about  it — I  have  never  seen 
him  so  remorseful  before — so  full  of  self-reproach  and 
regret.  You  must  not  be  too  hard  on  him,  dear." 

"I  do  not  mean  to  be  hard  on  any  one,"  said  the 
young  girl,  "  you  misunderstand  me  if  you  think  that 


332  &  EUBANK. 

there  is  any  bitterness  whatever  in  my  heart  against 
either  you  or  him.  You  could  not  foresee  the  disaster, 
nor  could  he,  when  he  started  on  his  journey  back. 
Death  comes  to  ail.  Harry  must  have  died  sometime 
as  did  Richard  and  father  and  mother.  This  was  the 
appointed  time  and  way.  I  should  be  miserable,  if  I 
felt  otherwise.  I  am  glad  that  it  was  bravely  and  nobly 
done.  Ever  since  I  can  remember,  Eleanor,  I  have  felt 
anxious  about  him.  There  was  a  dashing  recklessness 
in  his  nature  that  always  threatened  some  tragic  end. 
He  did  not  value  his  life.  My  heart  aches  with  a  sense 
of  loss,  for  I  loved  him  truly,  and  shall  miss  him  more 
than  I  can  bear  to  think  of,  but  I  have  no  anger  against 
you  or  the  Colonel.  I  know  that  Harry  was  glad  to  do 
something  for  you,  so  you  must  not  grieve  for  him  in  this 
hopeless  way." 

"  Jessie,  you  are  a  noble  girl,"  said  Eleanor,  clasping 
her  sister's  hand  in  both  of  her  own.  "  Your  words 
have  given  me  comfort.  I  will  try  to  look  up  and  take 
courage  and  be  strong.  I  will  lie  down  here  on  the 
sofa  and  rest  awhile ;  I  could  not  sleep  last  night,  and 
to-day  I  feel  so  tired  and  ill  that  I  cannot  sit  up  any 
longer." 

Jessie  arranged  the  pillows  for  her,  and  laid  a  warm 
blanket  over  her  ;  then  she  herself  lay  back  and  rested 
in  the  great  rocking-chair  in  which  Harry  had  sat  with 
Lilian  that' rainy  day.  Feet  were  moving  about  softly 
in  the  next  room  where  his  body  lay,  and  voices  were 
talking  in  subdued  tones. 

Jessie  knew  that  the  negro  women  had  come  from  the 
Quarter  to  see  him.  The  door  was  partially  open,  and 
she  heard  what  they  were  saying  to  each  other. 

"  Well,  I  never  did  have  anything  tuck  de  bref  out'n 
my  body  as  dis  has,"  said  Aunt  Lucy ;  "  I  tell  you 


EEDBANK.  333 

I  could  scarcely  git  up  here  to  de  house,  yet  I  jes'  had 
to  come.  Marse  Harry,  he  allus  was  kin'  an'  good  to 
me  an'  Reuben.  When  Reuben  cut  his  foot  so  bad  las' 
year,  'twas  Marse  Harry  dat  tended  to  it,  day  arter  day, 
fur  nigh  on  to  a  month,  a-washin'  it,  an'  bindin'  it  up 
jes,  as  handy  as  a  woman." 

"  Yes,  he  was  mighty  good  when  dar  was  trouble 
round,"  said  Rena.  "  When  de  baby  got  burnt  up,  he 
was  de  fust  one  to  git  to  de  house,  and  he  try  his  best 
to  keep  me  quite,  an'  hoi'  me  back,  when  I  catch  up 
de  corpse  an'  run  up  here  to  mistis." 

"  He  fetched  me  quinine  his  own  se'f ,  when  I  was  sick 
in  de  beginnin'  o'  las'  summer,"  said  Rose  ;  "  an'  he 
come  right  up  to  de  bed  an'  made  me  take  it,  too,  'case 
he  knowed  I'd  throw  it  away  soon  as  he  was  gone,  ef 
he  didn't  make  me  swallow  it  'fore  his  very  eyes." 

"  Yes,  he  had  a  mighty  good  heart,  even  ef  he 
did  get  drunk  sometimes,"  said  Aunt  Lucy,  shaking  her 
head  and  sighing ;  "  he  was  better  to  everybody  else 
den  he  was  to  hissef.  He  never  'peared  to  care  much 
fur  hissef,  somehow.  When  I  used  to  talk  to  him  'bout 
his  way  o'  handlin'  a  gun,  he'd  allus  say,  '  Well,  Aunt 
Lucy,  I'se  not  much  account  no  way — mighty  few  folks 
would  grieve  over  me,  ef  I  did  happen  to  blow  my  brains 
out  some  day.'  Dem  was  jes'  his  words,  'fore  de  Lord. 
Well,  I  know  dere's  a  good  many  a-grievin'  over  him 
on  dis  plantation  to-day.  I'se  never  seen  old  marster 
so  quiet  in  all  my  born  days." 

"  I  hope  he's  in  de  Ian'  o'  promise  now,"  said  Aunt 
Nancy,  with  a  doubtful  groan  and  a  solemn  shake  of 
the  head.  They  all  groaned  in  chorus.  Presently  they 
shuffled  out,  and  went  off  together  down  the  red  lane 
to  the  Quarter.  Their  words  had  carried  comfort  to 
Jessie's  sad  heart,  for  she  loved  to  think  of  her  brother 


334  EEDBANK. 

as  full  of  sympathy  for  the  poor  and  afflicted.  This 
was  the  active  virtue  on  which  Christ  had  himself  pro 
nounced  the  blessing  of  eternal  life.  She  was  not 
orthodox — this  simple  Southern  maiden.  To  her  intelli 
gence  it  seemed  better  to  love  one's  neighbor  and  help 
him  in  this  world  than  to  hold  fast  to  the  doctrine  of 
eternal  damnation  in  the  next. 

Late  that  afternoon,  Jessie  went  softly  into  the  room 
where  her  brother  lay.  She  had  not  dared  to  trust  her 
self  to  look  upon  him  until  now.  No  one  had  thought 
to  close  the  blinds,  and  the  pale  evening  light  fell  upon 
the  shrouded  form.  She  approached  the  bier,  and  drew 
aside  the  sheet  that  covered  him  from  sight.  Cold,  still, 
and  beautiful  he  lay,  with  a  smile  of  perfect  peace  upon 
his  lips. 

•  "His  palms  were  folded  on  his  breast, 
There  was  no  other  thing  expressed 
But  long  disquiet  merged  in  rest." 

"  O  Harry  !  Harry  !  my  brother  !  my  brother  !  where 
are  you  now?"  she  sobbed  in  the  bitterness  of  her 
grief.  "  Are  all  the  questions  answered  for  you,  dear  ? 
Is  life  better  than  you  thought? — And  God  more 
merciful  ?  " 

The  next  day  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  arrived,  and 
many  other  friends  from  the  city  and  all  the  surround 
ing  country.  Far  and  wide  his  gallant  deed  was  known, 
and  every  one  now  had  a  kind  word  for  Harry  Hoi- 
combe.  We  always  delight  to  honor  one  when  dead, 
however  we  may  regard  him  when  living.  It  is  a  trait 
of  human  nature,  not  altogether  commendable.  A  little 
of  the  kindness  expended  on  the  lifeless  remains  would, 
perhaps,  have  warmed  the  heart  before  it  ceased  to  beat, 
and  have  made  the  world  a  fairer  dwelling-place. 


REDE  ANN.  335 

A  grave  had  been  dug  for  him  in  a  quiet  corner  of 
the  beautiful  cemetery  of  the  city.  There  they  laid 
him  to  rest,  and  there  we  will  leave  him  to  his  long 
sleep.  Before  many  months  had  passed  a  slender 
cross  of  white  marble  marked  the  spot,  and  on  it  these 
words  were  deeply  cut: 

"  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life 
for  his  friends." 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THERE  was  one  member  of  the  family  at  Redbank 
upon  whom  the  death  of  Harry  had  fallen  with  crush 
ing  weight — this  was  Lilian.  Too  young  to  realize  his 
faults  or  to  criticise  his  actions,  she  had  only  felt  the 
charm  of  his  gay  and  affectionate  nature. 

She  had  returned  his  playful  fondness  with  a  passion 
ate  admiration  and  loye  which  was  rooted  in  the  very 
depths  of  her  being.  During  those  first  sad  days  she 
had  been  very  quiet  and  composed,  indulging  in  no 
sobs  nor  tears.  During  the  preparations  for  the  burial, 
during  the  funeral,  and  the  last  solemn  rite,  when  "  dust 
is  given  back  to  dust,"  she  had  moved  around  like  one 
dazed  or  stunned.  No  one  but  Jessie  guessed  the 
agony  through  which  the  young  soul  was  passing. 
Night  after  night,  the  small,  white-robed  figure  appeared 
beside  the  young  girl's  bed,  and  begged  to  be  taken  in ; 
night  after  night,  the  cold  little  hands  were  clasped 
around  her  neck,  and  the  dry  little  lips  were  pressed  to 
her  cheek.  Lilian  was  drooping  like  a  blighted  flower ; 
dark  circles  were  settling  around  her  eyes,  and  an 
insidious  languor  seemed  to  be  slowly  creeping  over 
her.  Often  she  would  come  and  lay  her  head  against 
Jessie's  shoulder,  and  whisper  :  "  Aunty,  I  am  so  tired  !  " 
Then  the  girl  would  take  her  in  her  arms  and  talk  with 
her,  or  read  to  her,  or  tell  her  stories.  Jessie  knew  well 
that  the  little  heart  was  aching,  and  she  bravely  laid 


HEDBANK.  3?  7 

aside  her  own  grief  to  minister  to  the  silent  siiiu-... 
of  the  child.  It  was  well  that  it  was  so ;  otherwise 
she  might  herself  have  grown  morbid  and  despairing 
over  all  the  mysteries  of  life  and  death,  for  the  pain 
of  bereavement  was  not  lessened  day  by  day.  From 
her  soul  the  cry  often  went  out — 

"  Oh!  for  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand, 
And  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still!" 

There  were  moments  when  resignation  forsook  her, 
and  she  yearned  unutterably  for  the  bright  presence  that 
had  departed  forever.  But  now  these  feelings  must  be 
locked  up  out  of  sight;  it  was  no  time  for  selfish  indul 
gence  in  the  luxury  of  grief ;  another  sweet  young  life 
was  threatened,  and  every  one  was  soon  awake  to  the 
danger.  Mrs.  Winston,  with  an  anxious  heart,  gave 
every  leisure  moment  to  her  child ;  she  took  her  in  her 
arms  and  carried  her  from  place  to  place  during  the  busy 
morning  hours,  demanding  assistance  in  the  pantry,  in 
the  kitchen,  in  the  garden,  in  the  smoke-house,  when 
ever  there  was  anything  that  the  little  one  could  do. 
She  had  Reuben  make  a  tiny  garden  for  her,  and  plant  it 
with  flower-seeds ;  she  had  Rena  bring  the  little  chickens 
for  her  to  look  at  and  admire.  Even  the  self-centred 
Colonel  aroused  himself  to  amuse  this  drooping  child, 
whose  step  each  day  was  growing  feebler,  and  whose 
eyes  were  dim  with  unwept  tears.  He  went  to  the 
city  and  bought  playthings  for  her — and  pets  without 
number ;  now  it  was  a  bird,  now  a  dog,  and  last  of  all, 
he  bought  a  pony  for  her  and  took  her  with  him 
to  ride,  reviving  his  old-time  gallantry  for  her  sweet 
sake.  Lilian  made  no  response  whatever  to  these  efforts  ; 
her  thoughts  seemed  far  away  in  some  shadowy  land, 
searching  forever  for  the  lost  one.  She  never  spoke  the 


338  REDBANK. 

name  of  her  Uncle  Hal  to  any  one,  not  even  to  Jessie 
when  she  nestled  in  her  arms  at  night  and  patiently  waited 
for  sleep  to  come.  The  young  girl  wondered  more  and 
more  at  this,  and  felt  that  if  she  could  once  get  the 
child  to  talk  about  Harry,  relief  would  come  from  this 
unnatural  listlessness  and  self-control.  At  length,  one 
evening  after  supper,  when  they  were  in  the  back  parlor, 
and  Lilian  was  in  her  lap,  while  they  rocked  backwards 
and  forwards  in  the  dear  old  rocking-chair,  and  talked 
softly  together,  Jessie  said,  "  Darling,  wouldn't  you  like 
me  to  tell  you  something  about  Uncle  Hal  ?  You  know 
he  and  I  were  little  children  together,  and  we  used  to 
play  all  kinds  of  funny  games.  Shall  I  tell  you  about 
them?" 

There  was  a  little  shiver  as  if  some  sore  spot  had  been 
touched,  and  then  the  whispered  answer  came,  "  Yes. " 

This  was  the  beginning  of  many  stories  about  the 
childhood  of  Jessie  and  her  brother.  Evening  after 
evening,  the  girl  patiently  went  over  these  tales,  paint 
ing  every  scene  with  a  careful  hand,  and  trying  hard  to 
keep  Lilian's  interest  well  sustained.  Soon  the  child 
began  to  ask  questions  and  to  fill  in  the  little  voids 
which  the  aunt's  memory  sometimes  unconsciously  made. 
Often  the  two  indulged  in  a  little  soft  laughter  over  the 
childish  pranks  of  the  brother  and  sister.  With  the 
quick  eye  of  love,  Jessie  began  to  note  a  change  for  the 
better — a  slowly  awakening  interest  in  other  things,  and 
an  ever-increasing  inclination  to  talk  about  Uncle  Hal  in 
a  natural  way,  as  if  he  were  only  absent  for  a  few  weeks, 
and  would  walk  in  upon  them  unexpectedly  some  day. 
The  beautiful  cool  spring  days  favored  this  return  to 
health.  The  warm  weather  seemed  to  delay  its  coming 
purposely  to  advance  the  recovery  of  this  little  child, 

whom  every'or.e  watched  with  an  anxious  heart. 

•2'2 


EEDBANK.  339 

Something  good  came  to  eacli  member  of  the  family 
from  this  patient  and  unselfish  devotion  to  Lilian.  They 
grew  more  tender  and  considerate  in  manner — less  self- 
absorbed,  and  less  careless  of  the  little  blossoms  that 
were  blooming  in  the  old  home.  Master  Francis,  who 
was  growing  into  a  stout,  noisy  boy,  was  given  a  place 
at  the  table  and  in  the  family  gatherings.  He  soon 
learned  to  contribute  his  mite  to  the  entertainment  of 
the  household.  Eleanor  grew  daily  in  sweetness  under 
this  discipline  of  unselfish  effort.  The  old  despairing 
expression  left  her  eyes.  A  holy  peace  seemed  to  be 
descending  upon  her  troubled  soul.  She  gave  herself  no 
time  to  spend  in  introspection — no  time  to  brood  over 
the  mistakes  of  the  past — no  time  to  waste  in  vain  regrets 
over  ungathered  fruit.  The  Colonel,  too,  was  changed ; 
he  was  gentler  and  kindlier  to  every  one — even  to  the 
dogs.  Before  him  was  ever  present  that  gallant  act 
which  had  saved  him  from,  irretrievable  loss — that  gal 
lant  soul  which  he  had  so  lightly  valued  because  of  some 
flaws  upon  its  purity.  Verily,  in  dying,  one  some 
times  accomplishes  the  very  thing  in  which  one  fails 
while  living. 

• 

The  glorious  May  days  had  come  again,  and  the 
world  was  a  marvel  of  beauty.  One  afternoon,  when 
the  leaves  and  flowers  were  dancing  joyously  in  the 
fresh  breeze,  and  the  mocking-birds  were  filling  the  air 
with  music,  Lizzie  put  her  head  through  the  half-open 
door  of  Jessie's  room  and  said — 

"  Miss  Jessie,  dere's  a  gentleman  in  the  parlor  wants 
to  see  you." 

"  Who  is  it,  Lizzie  ?  "  asked  the  young  lady. 

"  I  dunno  ;  Uncle  Oliver,  he  tole  me  to  tell  you." 

Before  descending,  Jessie  glanced  from  the  window, 


340  REDEANK. 

and  saw  the  gray  horses  of  Judge  Brooks  standing  at 
the  front  door. 

"  It  is  the  Judge,"  she  said  to  herself,  smiling  at  the 
thought  of  seeing  her  old  friend  again. 

The  long  agony  through  which  she  had  been  living  had 
almost  deadened  the  other  feelings  of  her  heart,  and  she 
did  not  now  dread  to  meet  her  former  lover,  and  face 
the  dim  shadow  of  a  new  relationship. 

She  glided  quickly  down  the  long  staircase.  As  she 
entered  the  parlor,  Waverley  Brooks  came  forward  to 
meet  her. 

She  gave  him  her  hand,  and  a  faint  color  came  into 
her  cheeks.  The  young  man  was  hardly  prepared  for  the 
change  in  her  appearance ;  the  long  black  robe,  the  pure 
pale  face,  the  large,  sad  eyes,  told  a  tale  of  patient  suf 
fering,  and  he  felt  his  heart  beat  with  a  quick  throb  of 
pity  and  love.  He  longed  to  take  this  delicate  creature 
in  his  strong  arms,  and  henceforth  protect  her  from  all 
the  rough  winds  of  heaven. 

"  Mr..  Brooks,"  she  said,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you. 
I  did  not  know  you  had  returned.  I  saw  those  beauti 
ful  gray  horses  at  the  door,  and  expected  to  meet  your 
father." 

"  And  you  are  disappointed  ? "  he  asked,  a  slight 
shadow  passing  over  his  face. 

"  Shall  I  speak  the  truth  ?  "  she  said,  her  color  deepen 
ing  under  his  intense  gaze. 

"  Yes :  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth." 

"  Well,  yes ;  I  am  a  little  disappointed."  And  she 
smiled  faintly,  feeling  how  much  easier  it  would  be  to 
face  an  interview  with  the  father  than  with  the  son. 

She  had  an  uncomfortable  sense  of  helplessness  in  the 
presence  of  Waverley  Brooks  ;  she  knew  that  he  mastered 


REDBANK.  341 

her  with  his  clear  gray  eyes  and  determined  will.  Al 
ready  she  waj  fluttering  strangely,  and  she  could 
neither  control  the  quick  beating  of  her  heart,  nor  the 
tide  of  color  that  it  kept  sending  into  her  face. 

"  Am  I  always  to  stand  in  my  father's  shadow,  Miss 
Holconibe  ?  "  he  asked,  with  a  touch  of  impatience  in 
his  tone. 

"  I  thought  you  had  just  stepped  out  of  it  into  the 
sunshine,  Mr.  Brooks,"  she  replied,  smiling  at  his 
annoyance.  It  placed  her  a  little  more  at  ease  to  see 
him  on  the  verge  of  losing  his  temper.  "  Your  journey 
North  has  been  successful,  I  am  sure." 

"  Why  do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Because  you  have  the  indefinable  air  of  success 
around  you." 

"  Have. I?  Your  eye  is  quick  to  read  character,  Miss 
Holcombe.  Well,  I  will  acknowledge  to  you  that  I 
have  realized  my  most  extravagant  hopes.  Your  good 
Avishes  proved  a  powerful  talisman." 

"  I  imagine  it  was  your  determined  efforts  rather  than 
my  good  wishes." 

"  Don't  destroy  that  beautiful  illusion,  please  ;  allow 
me  to  believe  in  something  outside  myself." 

She  felt  vexed  at  the  embarrassment  that  was  again 
taking  possession  of  her  and  tried  in  vain  to  shake  it  off. 
She  did  not  dare  to  lift  her  eyes,  and  found  no  ready 
response  to  his  words 

"  Miss  Holcombe,"  said  he,  after  a  moment's  pause, 
"  may  I  offer  you  my  deepest  sympathy ;  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  grieved  I  am  at  the  great  sorrow  that  has  come 
to  you." 

She  raised  her  hand  with  that  imploring  gesture 
which  she  so  often  made,  and  said,  hoarsely, 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,  please — I  cannot  bear  it.     I  am 


342  REDBANK. 

very  grateful  for  your  sympathy;  we  have  received 
kind  words  from  every  one,  but  that  cannot  restore 
the  lost." 

He  longed  to  say  more — to  tell  her  that  her  sorrow 
was  his  own- — that  he  wished  to  help  her  bear  it  and  all 
the  other  troubles  of  life,  but  a  feeling  akin  to  awe 
restrained  him.  How  could  he  speak  of  love  to  this 
pure  nun-like  creature,  whose  grief  seemed  to  make 
her  sacred?  The  words  died  upon  his  lips,  and  the 
silence  was  becoming  oppressive,  when  she  said, — "  Tell 
me  about  your  journey  North,  and  what  you  saw  and 
enjoyed." 

"  Then  you  do  feel  a  little  interest  in  me  ? "  he 
asked,  a  slight  flush  of  pleasure  coming  into  his 
face. 

"  How  can  you  doubt  it  ?  " 

"  I  have  doubted  it  a  great  deal,  and  these  doubts 
have  made  me  very  wretched,  in  spite  of  all  other 
successes." 

"  Doubts  generally  make  people  wretched,"  she  said, 
very  simply,  as  if  speaking  of  religious  doubts  ;  "  it  is 
much  better  to  cast  them  to  the  wind  and  have 
faith." 

"  And  will  you  let  me  have  faith  ?  Will  you  let 
me  believe  in  the  possibility  of  realizing  my  dearest 
wish?" 

She  felt  the  color  warming  and  dyeing  her  face. 
"  How  can  I  guess  what  that  may  be  ?  "  she  said,  looking 
up  at  him,  but  her  eyes  immediately  fell,  and  the  blush 
on  cheek  and  brow  deepened. 

"  May  I  tell  you  ?  "  he  asked  ;  "  will  you  pardon  me 
if  I  am  too  bold  ?  I  would  not  for  the  world  offend 
vou."  Again  the  feeling  of  awe  came  over  him  as  if  he 
were  treading  on  holy  ground.  She  drooped  her  head 


EEDBANK.  343 

iii  silence.  He  arose  from  his  seat  and  approached  her ; 
unconsciously  she  also  arose  as  if  his  visit  were  at  an 
end,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  say  good-bye.  He 
reached  out  his  hand  and  whispered  softly,  "  Jessie, 
look  up  at  me.  You  know  that  I  love  you." 

She  could  not  speak ;  her  heart  was  full  to  overflow 
ing.  She  extended  her  hand  and  laid  it  in  his.  He 
clasped  it  firmly  for  a  moment,  then  drawing  her  very 
tenderly  to  his  heart,  he  stooped,  and  kissed  her  again 
and  again.  They  were  silent  for  a  little  while  then 
Waverley  said,  "  Go  and  get  your  hat,  Jessie,  and  we  will 
drive." 

She  flitted  away  and  soon  returned,  prepared  to 
accompany  him.  He  assisted  her  into  the  carriage, 
then,  taking  his  seat  beside  her,  he  gave  the  command 
to  the  coachman. 

"  Not  by  the  mill,"  she  whispered,  as  they  left  the 
avenue.  The  horses  turned  into  the  opposite  road,  and 
trotted  swiftly  over  the  smooth  white  sand.  Waverley 
Brooks  held  her  little  ungloved  hand  in  his  under  the 
snowy  afghan ;  that  was  enough  for  the  present  to  con 
tent  him. 

As  the  horses  dashed  on,  and  the  soft  spring  air 
fanned  her  cheek,  Jessie  Holcombe  thought  of  that 
ride  with  the  Judge  so  long  ago.  She  remembered  how 
hard  it  had  been  to  resist  his  pleading — how  lonely  she 
had  felt  that  day,  how  hungry  for  love,  and  how  weary 
of  the  struggle  of  life.  She  shuddered  to  think  that 
she  might  have  been  the  wife  of  another — the  wife  of 
Waverley's  father.  Only  her  true  heart  and  her 
strong  sense  of  right,  had  saved  her  from  such  a  fate. 
By  failing  to  obey  this  deep  womanly  instinct,  many  a 
sweet  maiden  has  lost  forever  the  chance  of  entering  the 
paradise  of  perfect  love. 


344  REDBANK. 

When  they  had  returned  home  and  were  again  in  the 
parlor,  he  took  the  hand  of  Jessie  in  his,  and  said,  "  May 
I  not  now  speak  to  Colonel  Winston  and  your  sister  ? 
I  would  like  to  tell  them  all  about  it  and  secure  their 
approval." 

"  No,  not  yet,  please  let  us  wait  a  while,  until  I 
get  a  little  used  to  it  myself.  It  does  not  seem  quite 
right  for  me  to  be  so  happy," — and  the  tears  came  into 
her  eyes.  "  Besides,  I  cannot  think  of  leaving  Eleanor 
and  Lilian  for  a  long  time — they  would  miss  me  so.  I 
must  stay  with  them,  and  try  to  comfort  them." 

"  Do  you  imagine  that  I  shall  listen  to  that  argu 
ment,  or  be  content  to  wait  long  ?  Jessie,  you  belong 
to  me  now.  Do  you  realize  that  I  shall  determine 
some  things  for  you?" 

She  looked  at  him  with  surprise. 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  dispute  that,  if  you  are  inclined  to 
tyrannize." 

"  1  shall  not  tyrannize,  but  you  are  mine  now,  and  I 
shall  take  care  of  your  health  and  happiness.  I  shall 
not  allow  you  to  sacrifice  yourself  for  any  one." 

"  Except  for  Mr.  Waverley  Brooks,"  she  said,  with  a 
radiant  smile,  which  he  reflected. 

"  Except  for  Mr.  Waverley  Brooks.  That  is  just 
how  matters  stand,"  he  answered.  "  Your  sister  may 
have  had  claims  upon  you  in  the  past,  but  they  are  now 
swallowed  up — utterly  devoured,  by  my  own." 

"  I  don't  think  that  I  am  quite  prepared  to  acknowl 
edge  that.  Perhaps  I  have  reserved  a  small  amount  of 
myself  for  private  jurisdiction?  " 

"  Not  an  ounce  of  flesh,  not  a  drop  of  blood — you  are 
wholly  mine.  Now,  don't  deny  it,  for  it  is  so."  He 
paused  a  moment,  and  clasped  her  hand  more  tightly 
in  both  of  his  own,  before  he  added  : 


REDBANK.  345 

"•  T  want  to  tell  you  another  thing,  Jessie — my  mind  is 
quite  made  up,  I  will  not  swerve  an  inch  ;  it  is  this, — 
I  must  take  you  away  from  Redbank  just  as  soon  as 
possible  ;  the  place  is  full  of  sad  memories  for  you — you 
are  not  strong ;  you  are  more  shattered  by  all  this  sorrow 
than  you  realize.  I  wish  that  you  would  go  with  me 
to-day !  "  His  voice  was  very  tender  and  pleading. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  she  asked,  amazed  at  so 
unreasonable  a  request. 

"  Go  with  me  to  my  father's  house,  and  stay  until 
you.  are  ready  to  be  married.  I  cannot  bear  to  leave  you 
here  !  " 

She  shook  her  head.  "  You  know  it  is  impossible  for 
me  to  grant  such  a  request." 

"  Well,  I  cannot  wait  long — a  very  few  weeks  must 
satisfy  you." 

u  But  I  cannot  leave  Eleanor,"  she  answered  entreat- 
ingly ;  "  you  do  not  know  how  much  she  needs  me — her 
heart  is  almost  broken." 

"  She  has  her  husband  and  her  children  ;  she  must 
find  her  comfort  in  them." 

"  I  did  not  think  that  you  could  be  so  hard.  I  must 
reconsider  the  matter ;  it  may  be  necessary  to  cancel 
the  contract,"  she  said,  smiling  faintly. 

"  You  cannot,"  he  replied,  "  you  are  mine  ;  no  power 
on  earth  nor  in  heaven  shall  take  you  from  me." 

"  Hush  !  do  not  talk  so.  It  is  blasphemy,"  she  whis 
pered,  almost  frightened  at  the  vehemence  of  his  man 
ner  and  tone. 

"  No,  it  is  not  blasphemy.  Living  or  dead,  Jessie, 
you  will  always  be  mine  to  love,  honor,  and  cherish. 
Can  you  not  measure  your  own  love  that  way?" 

"  Yes,  I  think  so." 

"Jessie,"  he  continued,  softly,   "I  could  love    you 


346  KEDBANK. 

with  the  breadth  of  heaven  betwixt  us.  During  all 
these  weeks,  I  have  waited,  waited,  waited,  because 
my  father  wished  it  and  exacted  a  promise  from  me. 
He  wanted  to  test  my  feelings  for  you,  knowing  that  I 
had  failed  towards  Alice.  My  love  for  you  has  grown 
stronger  day  by  day,  until  it  has  become  an  all-consum 
ing  passion.  I  could  not  trust  myself  to  say  what 
might  happen  if  you  trifled  with  me." 

"  I  have  no  intention  of  trifling  with  you  ;  I  do  love 
you  with  all  my  heart,"  she  said,  simply,  her  sweet 
eyes  confessing  the  fact  as  well  as  her  sweet  lips.  "  Since 
we  have  been  parted  I,  too,  have  weighed  my  love  for 
you,  and  I  know  that  it  fills  my  whole  being.  I  could 
not  live  without  you."  She  turned  her  face  up  to  his, 
that  he  might  read  her  whole  soul  and  see  that  she  had 
spoken  truly. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone.  For  a  few 
moments  they  sat  in  silence.  "  It  is  very  hard  to  leave 
you,  Jessie,  but  I  must  go  now,"  he  said,  at  length.  "I 
will  see  you  again  to-morrow,  and  every  day  until  you 
are  ready  to  follow  me  '  over  the  hills  and  far  away.' 
I  shall  tell  my  father  and  Alice  about  our  engagement 
to-night.  And,  Jessie,  I  want  you  to  come  to  my 
father's  house  for  a  while,  and  make  acquaintance  with 
your  future  home  and  new  relatives.  They  already  know 
and  love  you,  but  this  act  of  mine  has  made  a  little 
difference."  Yes,  she  knew  that  well,  and  she  did 
not  wish  to  meet  them  just  yet — these  new  relatives. 
She  looked  at  him  and  shook  her  head. 

"  Not  to  please  me  ?  "  he  said  ;  "  surely  you  will  do  it 
for  my  sake  ?  " 

"  I  will  think  about  it ;  indeed  I  cannot  promise  now. 
I  wish  you  would  give  me  a  little  time  to  get  used  to  it 
all.  It  seems  so  strange  that  you  should  have  such  a 


REDBANK,  347 

claim  upon  me,  such  a  power  over  me.  Only  a  few 
months  ago,  I  had  not  even  seen  you." 

uYes,  it  is  strange,"  he  answered,  smiling  at  the 
sweet  confusion  of  her  face  ;  "  but  the  strangeness  will 
soon  wear  off,  when  we  are  always  together.  Jessie,  I 
shall  be  busy  in  the  city  the  whole  of  next  week,  and  I 
must  have  you  with  me.  I  shall  not  be  able  to  drive 
out  here  every  day,  will  you  not  come  to  my  father's 
house." 

"  Oh,  I  cannot,  I  cannot !  You  must  not  ask  me.  The 
very  thought  of  it  makes  me  feel  unhappy.  I  am  not 
quite  ready  to  meet  those  new  relatives." 

"  But  I  shall  be  with  you.  Come,  say  that  you  will  go, 
and  do  not  keep  me  in  suspense." 

"  I  am  truly  sorry  to  detain  you.  but  I  cannot  give 
you  any  promise  now." 

"  Yes,  I  must  have  it  before  I  go." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  a  little  selfish,"  she  whispered, 
softly. 

"  Yes ;  I  confess  that  I  am — every  man  is  ;  do  give 
me  your  consent  before  I  go." 

Jessie  bowed  her  head  silently.  He  could  not  know 
how  much  it  cost  her  to  give  this  tacit  consent. 

"  And  you  will  also  promise  to  be  married  very  soon  ?  " 
he  pleaded. 

She  did  not  reply,  and  he  continued  : 

"  Well,  I  shall  be  sure  to  have  my  way.  As  com 
pensation  for  all  this  haste,  I  have  a  delightful  surprise 
in  store  for  you,  when  we  are  married." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  asked,  quickly. 

"  You  must  wait,"  he  replied,  laughing  at  her  eager 
ness  ;  "  perhaps  curiosity  may  make  you  willing  to 
hasten  the  happy  event." 

"  I  think  not,"  she  said. 


348  REDBANK. 

"We  will  see.  Good-bye — I  must  go  now."  And  again 
he  drew  her  to  his  heart,  and  kissed  her  upon  brow, 
cheek,  and  lips. 

She  watched  the.  gray  horses  drive  away.  Then  she 
sat  down  quietly  in  the  gathering  darkness  to  think  over 
her  great  happiness. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

WAVEELEY  BROOKS  came  again  the  next  afternoon, 
and  the  pleasant  drive  was  repeated.  On  the  third  day, 
he  insisted  upon  informing  the  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Win 
ston  of  the  engagement  between  himself  and  Jessie. 
They  were  both  exceedingly  surprised  at  the  announce 
ment. 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  it !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel. 
He  just  did  save  himself  from  adding,  "  I  thought  you 
were  going  to  marry  your  cousin."  However,  instead  of 
this  unbecoming  remark,  he  said,  "  Why,  Mr.  Brooks, 
it  seems  to  me  that  you  are  hardly  acquainted  with 
Miss  Holcombe.  I  am  afraid  you  are  acting  too  hastily. 
One  ought  to  think  a  long  time  before  getting  mar 
ried.  It  is  rather  a  serious  matter,  you  know." 

The  young  gentleman  smiled  quietly.  "  I  have  been 
thinking  of  it  almost  steadily  for  about  six  months, 
Colonel.  Isn't  that  long  enough  ?  The  very  first  time 
I  met  Miss  Holcombe,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  she,  and 
no  other  woman,  was  to  be  my  wife." 

"  Well,  I'm  immensely  surprised,"  again  exclaimed 
the  Colonel,  almost  whistling  at  the  thought  of  all  the 
queer  unexpected  things  that  do  happen  in  this  world. 
"•  Why,  Mr.  Brooks,  I  thought  you  were  going  to  marry 
Miss  Alice."  To  save  his  soul,  the  Colonel  could  not 
help  uttering  those  words.  In  fact,  he  seemed  entitled 
to  some  explanation  from  a  gentleman  who  could  so 
boldly  disappoint  public  expectation  and  marry  the  wrong 
girl. 


350  REDBANK. 

The  young  man  coolly  replied,  "  Yes,  that  was  the 
general  opinion,  but  I  could  not  marry  a  lady  who 
flatly  and  persistently  refused  me.  Besides,  after  an 
absence  of  three  years,  I  found  my  own  affections  cooled 
down  to  a  cousinly  temperature. 

"  In  spite  of  your  doubts,  Colonel,  I  consider  myself 
very  well  acquainted  with  Miss  Holcombe.  I  saw  a 
great  deal  of  her  last  fall  when  she  repeatedly  visited 
my  cousin  at  The  Grove.  I  find  that  she  suits  me  in 
every  respect.  I  have  asked  her  to  marry  me,  and  she 
has  consented.  We  only  await  your  approval  and  that 
of  Mrs.  Winston.  My  own  relatives  are  perfectly  satis 
fied  with  my  choice." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Brooks,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  I  have  no 
right  and  no  inclination  to  disapprove  of  your  conduct, 
but,  all  the  same,  I'm  immensely  surprised." 

"  I'm  glad  to  have  surprised  some  one,"  the  young  man 
remarked  ;  "  my  own  family  have  foreseen  it  for  a  long 
time,  so  they  say.  One  does  not  wish  to  be  perfectly 
transparent.  I  want  the  credit  of  a  little  self-control. 
I  have  always  rather  prided  myself  that  I  did  not '  wear 
my  heart  upon  my  sleeve  for  daws  to  peck  at.' " 

"  Well,  I  hope  you  are  worthy  of  such  a  wife  as  Jessie 
Holcombe,"  said  the  Colonel ;  "  she  is  one  of  the  sweet 
est  women  that  God  ever  made." 

"I  am  aware  of  that,"  replied  the  young  man,  "  and 
I  trust  that  I  am  not  altogether  undeserving  of  her 
love." 

"  I  hardly  know  how  we  shall  manage  to  live  without 
Jessie,"  said  Mrs.  Winston,  who  had  felt  too  surprised 
and  grieved  at  the  announcement  of  the  engagement  to 
utter  a  single  word  until  now. 

"  That  will  be  a  great  deal  easier  for  you  than  it 
would  be  for  me.  I  find  her  presence  so  essential  to 


REDBANK.  351 

my  happiness  that  I  shall  give  her  only  a  few  weeks  for 
possible  regrets." 

At  this  moment,  Jessie  entered  the  room.  The  Colo 
nel  had  sent  for  her  ;  he  wanted  confirmation  from  her 
own  lips  of  this  strange  fact.  He  could  not  really  be 
lieve  that  she  was  engaged  to  this  young  man,  and  con 
templated  leaving  Redbank  for  another  home.  •  With  a 
blushing  face,  she  answered  questions  and  received  con 
gratulations. 

"  Now,  Mrs.  Winston,"  said  Waveiiy,  "  I  have  a  rather 
obstinate  young  lady  here  to  deal  with,  and  I  want  to 
appeal  to  you.  I  will  make  a  clear  statement  of  some 
facts,  and  add  an  appendix  of  my  wishes.  First,  for 
the  facts  :  the  summer  is  near  at  hand ;  Redbank  is  not 
altogether  healthy  during  the  hot  season  ;  Jessie  is  far 
from  strong,  and  needs  a  change  of  climate  to  restore 
her  bloom.  Now  for  the  wishes  !  I  want  to  be  married 
just  as  soon  as  possible,  within  two  or  three  weeks — say 
the  first  of  June.  I  want  to  take  Jessie  and  give  her  a 
breath  of  mountain  air  before  the  summer  comes.  I 
would  also  like  to  have  her  go  with  me,  after  a  few  days, 
to  my  father's  house,  and  remain  there  until  the  wed 
ding.  My  aunt  and  cousin  are  both  there,  and  I  wish 
my  future  wife  to  live  enfamille  with  us  all  for  awhile." 
This  plan  did  not  altogether  please  the  future  wife,  but 
Waverley  was  determined  to  have  his  own  way,  and  So 
he  triumphed  over  all  opposition. 

It  was  impossible  for  him  to  understand  Jessie's  re 
luctance  to  meet  the  members  of  his  family,  and  it  was 
equally  impossible  for  her  to  explain  her  feelings.  She 
had  an  ill-defined  conviction  that  they  all  felt  more  or 
less  sore  about  this  new  departure.  Then  and  there, 
she  made  up  her  mind  that  Waverley  Brooks  should 
never  know  anything  about  his  father's  attachment  to 


352  REDKANK. 

her.  This  was  her  only  mental  reservation,  and  it  cost 
her  conscientious  nature  some  few  pangs  ;  but  she  feared 
that  it  might  permanently  disturb  the  confidential  rela 
tions  of  father  and  son.  No  one  outside  her  own  family 
had  ever  suspected  the  ardent  admiration  of  the  Judge 
for  Miss  Holcombe,  and  no  one  but  Eleanor  knew  posi 
tively  of  his  offer  and  its  rejection. 

When,  a  few  days  later,  the  carriage  stopped  at  the 
door  of  the  Judge's  residence,  and  Jessie  and  Waverley 
alighted  and  ascended  the  broad  steps,  there  was  a  painful 
quickening  of  the  young  girl's  pulse.  When  she  entered 
the  great  drawing-room,  brilliant  with  light  and  color, 
upon  the  arm  of  her  promised  husband,  she  was  conscious 
of  an  emotion  of  embarrassment  and  constraint.  Mrs. 
Brooks,  Alice,  and  the  Judge  awaited  them,  and  Jessie 
fancied  that  the  welcome  of  each  one  of  them  wanted 
some  of  the  old  cordiality.  She  did  not  wonder  at  it, 
but  she  was  too  delicately  strung  not  to  feel  a  pang  of 
regret  at  having  done  anything  to  wound  these  three 
dear  friends.  Mrs.  Brooks  was  far  from  satisfied  with 
the  new  arrangement ;  she  blamed  Alice  for  coldness 
and  Waverley  for  faithlessness,  and  rather  suspected 
Jessie  of  a  little  feminine  coquetry.  The  young  gentle 
man  had  been  too  great  a  match  for  her  to  resign  will 
ingly  the  rightful  claim  of  her  daughter.  She  had 
never  before  in  her  life  experienced  so  bitter  a  disap 
pointment,  and  she  had  not  sufficient  tact  to  conceal  it 
from  the  eyes  of  the  world.  With  quick  intuition,  Jes 
sie  read  the  feelings  of  this  lady  as  easily  as  if  they  had 
been  reflected  in  a  mirror. 

The  manner  of  Alice  was  also  somewhat  constrained, 
for  she  had  suffered  keenly  from  her  mother's  reproaches, 
she  also  had  some  sense  of  humiliation  in  the  thought 
that  the  world  would  look  upon  her  as  a  forsaken 


EEDEANK.  353 

maiden.  Besides  all  this,  her  heart  was  deeply  wounded 
by  the  death  of  Harry  Holcombe.  She  now  realized 
that  she  had  loved  him  well,  and  that  no  new  affection 
could  ever  supplant  the  old.  Life  stretched  before  her 
like  a  melancholy  waste,  and  her  depression  was  appar 
ent  to  all.  The  Judge  suffered  silently  from  the  sur 
render  of  his  most  cherished  hopes,  but  he  was  too 
strong  and  noble  a  man  to  bear  any  evidence  of  such- 
suffering  in  face  or  manner.  After  the  first  greet 
ings  had  been  passed,  Waverley  stood  in  front  of 
Judge  Brooks,  with  Jessie  on  his  arm,  and  said,  "  Well, 
father,  you  are  satisfied  with  my  choice,  are  you  not  ?  " 
He  smiled  as  he  put  the  question,  but  at  heart  he  was 
very  eager  for  his  father's  approval.  The  Judge  looked 
at  his  new  daughter  for  a  few  moments,  and  she  felt  the 
color  come  into  her  face. 

"  I  think  she  will  do,  my  son,"  he  replied  slowly,  a 
glow  of  tenderness  lighting  his  eyes  ;  "  she  is  tall  enough 
for  even  such  a  great  fellow  as  yourself,  and  her  com 
plexion  and  hair  contrast  well  with  yours.  We  will 
try  to  like  her  for  your  sake,  and  perhaps,  in  the  course 
of  time,  we  will  discover  that  she  has  a  little  merit  of 
her  own.  Are  you  sure  that  you  like  each  other  well 
enough  to  be  married  ?  You  know  marriage  is  a  very 
serious  matter." 

"  I  think  I  like  her,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  And  how  is  it  with  you,  Jessie  ? "  asked  the 
Judge. 

"  I  think  I  like  him  a  little,"  replied  the  girl,  feeling 
the  warm  color  driving  in  waves  over  her  face.  "  You 
know  one  cannot  tell  exactly  until  afterwards.  He  may 
not  be  as  good  as  I  think  him.  It  is  just  possible  that  I 
may  be  deceived," 


354  EEDBANK. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Judge,  "  I  want  you  both  to  under 
stand  that,  if  you  find  out  you  have  made  a  mistake, 
you  need  not  come  to  me  to  get  a  divorce  for  you." 

"  Now,  that  is  too  bad,"  remarked  Jessie,  "  we  quite 
counted  on  you  to  help  us,  if  we  became  dissatisfied. 
You  are  a  great  lawyer  and  a  great  judge,  and  are 
accustomed  to  manage  such  affairs  successfully." 

They  were  all  smiling  now. 

"  I  wish  at  once  to  undeceive  you,  Miss  Holcombe,  if 
you  are  putting  your  trust  in  me.  I  shajl  not  aid  you 
in  the  least." 

"  Well,  we  understand  that  now, "  said  Waverley, 
"  and  we  promise  not  to  trouble  you  in  case  of  disaffec 
tion.  Now,  Jessie,  tell  me  what  you  think  of  him,"  and 
the  young  man  motioned  towards  his  father.  "  Do  you 
think  you  are  going  to  like  him,  and  get  on  well  with 
him?" 

She  drew  a  long  breath  and  exclaimed — "  I  am  so 
thankful  that  he  is  not  a  mother-in-law !  I  shall  try 
very  hard  not  to  quarrel  with  him." 

"  And  what  are  you  going  to  call  him  ? "  asked 
Waverley. 

"  The  Judge,  of  course." 

"  No ;  that  will  provoke  a  quarrel  immediately,"  said 
the  elderly  gentleman  ;  "  I  will  not  be  called  The  Judge 
in  my  own  house  ;  it  is  sufficiently  annoying  to  have  no 
other  name  outside  of  it.  I  wish  a  more  respectful 
appellation  from  my  son's  wife." 

"What  could  be  more  respectful  than  The  Judge" 
Jessie  replied ;  "  it  is  almost  an  acknowledgment  that 
you  are  the  best  and  wisest  judge  in  all  the  world. 
Surely  such  a  distinction  ought  to  satisfy  you." 

"  No,  it  does  not  by  any  means." 

"  Then  what  must  she  call  you  ?  "  asked  Waverley  ; 

23 


BEDBANK.  355 

"  I  have  some  little  influence  over  her,  and  I  will  do  my 
best  to  have  her  respect  your  wishes." 

"  Never  mind  now,  I  will  give  her  a  lesson  after  a 
while,"  said  the  Judge  ;  "  you  had  better  go  and  prepare 
yourselves  for  dinner  now.  I  see  Harris  hovering 
around  as  if  impatient  to  make  an  important  announce 
ment." 

When  they  were  again  in  the  drawing-room,  Judge 
Brooks  called  Jessie  to  come  and  sit  beside  him.  She 
obeyed,  and  he  drew  a  piece  of  paper  and  a  pencil  from 
his  pocket,  and  wrote  down  a  word. 

"  Now  spell  that  for  me,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  au 
thority.  She  began  in  a  pretty,  childish  way  to  call  the 
Litters  f-a-t-h-e-r. 

"  Now  what  does  that  spell  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  looked  up  at  him  and  shook  her  head,  saying 
simply,  "  The  word  is  too  hard  for  me  yet  a  while. 
You  must  wait  until  I  am  older." 

"  You  do  not  know  your  lesson,"  he  said,  severely ; 
"  and,  furthermore,  I'm  afraid  that  you  are  a  very 
obstinate  girl.  You  can  go  now,  but  to-morrow  I  shall 
expect  you  to  do  better." 

She  arose,  and  Waverley  beckoned  her  to  a  seat  beside 
him,  taking  her  hand  in  his.  Mrs.  Brooks  looked  at  the 
Judge  and  said,  "  Charles  you  are  not  a  very  old  man, 
but  do  you  know,  I  sometimes  see  signs  of  approaching 
dotage." 

"  Do  you,  Kate  ?     Well,  I'm  very  sorry." 

Alice  came  and  sat  down  near  him.  "  Uncle  Charles," 
she  said,  "  it  is  a  beautiful  dotage.  I  like  that  playful 
mood  in  you  better  than  any  other.  It  is  ever  so  much 
nicer  than  your  wise  mood,  or  your  silent  mood,  or  your 
gloomy  mood,  or  your  stern  mood.  You  shall  be  just  as 
doty  as  you  please,  you  dear,  darling  old  uncle." 


356  REDBANK. 

He  took  lier  little  hand  in  his,  and  carried  it  tenderly 
to  his  lips — "  Thank  you,  my  dear." 

He  loved  this  gentle  niece — she  had  been  always  the 
nearest  equivalent  to  a  daughter  that  he  had  ever 
known. 

Alice  continued,  "  Uncle  Charles,  I  know  that  you 
and  Jessie  are  going  to  get  on  splendidly  together,  and 
you  must  never  have  a  single  regret."  How  little  she 
guessed  the,  heart-ache  beneath  that  broad  expanse  of 
immaculate  linen  !  "  Jessie,"  she  called  across  the  room, 
"  I  am  so  glad  to  have  you  in  the  family.  It  is  a  new 
element  which  will  favor  a  better  rearrangement  and 
recomposition  of  the  old  elements.  You  will  brighten 
up  Uncle  Charles — he  has  been  awfully  glum  of  late — 
now  don't  deny  it !  "  and  she  stroked  his  hand  tenderly. 
"•  Then  you  will  keep  mamma  from  nodding  over  her 
patchwork.  She  will  not  confess  that  she  ever  does 
really  nod,  but  I  assure  you  I  have  occasionally  heard 
something  very  much  like  a  little  snore." 

"  Alice,  my  dear,  will  you  please  confine  yourself  to 
the  truth  when  you  undertake  to  report  my  doings," 
said  the  mother. 

"  And  you  will  stimulate  me,  Jessie,  to  exert  myself 
a  little  for  the  entertainment  of  others.  I,  for  one, 
am  willing  to  confess  my  sins.  I  have  been  lazy  and 
good-for-nothing  of  late,  and  anybody  but  dear  good 
Uncle  Charles  would  have  kicked  me  out  of  the  house." 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  such  an  excellent  opinion  of  me, 
Alice,"  replied  Jessie ;  "  I  will  try  not  to  disappoint 
your  expectations,  dear." 

"  But  I  haven't  finished  enumerating  my  expectations 
yet.  Last  of  all,  but  by  no  means  least,  I  trust  you  will 
take  that  unruly  young  gentleman  in  hand,  and  prevent 
him  from  being  so  unbearably  cross." 


REDBANK.  357 

"  Heigli-lio  ! "  exclaimed  Waverley,  "  What  is  that 
you  say  ?  You  cannot  possibly  refer  to  me  ;  I  was  never 
cross  in  all  my  life.  Don't  believe  her,  Jessie  ;  it  is  a 
libellous  attack  without  foundation  and  without  provo 
cation." 

"  Alas  !  thou  dost  not  know  thyself,  my  cousin  !  "  said 
Alice,  laughing.  "Why,  only  this  morning  I  heard  you 
storming  furiously  out  in  the  hall,  because  you  could 
not  find  your  gloves.  I  wanted  to  be  sure  that  it  was 
really  you,  and  not  some  escaped  lunatic,  so  I  opened 
the  door  softly  and  peeped  out.  Yes,  there  was  no  mis 
taking  your  identity ; — you  are  not  so  small  as  to  hide 
away  from  sight  like  a  pin ;  there  you  were  in  all  your 
monstrous  height  and  breadth,  raging  and  foaming  at 
the  mouth." 

"  For  heaven's  sake  do  have  some  slight  regard  for  the 
truth,  Alice  !  "  cried  the  young  man,  turning  somewhat 
red  in  the  face  ;  "  you  must  have  been  dreaming  or  see 
ing  visions.  For  a  long  time  I  have  suspected  you  of 
having  optical  illusions, — now  I'm  sure  of  it." 

"  No,  she  was  not  dreaming,  nor  having  optical  illu 
sions  either,"  said  Mrs.  Brooks,  laughing  at  Waverley's 
discomfiture ;  "  you  were  positively  and  dangerously 
cross.  I  trembled  for  Harris's  head.  And  it  was  all 
because  you  could  not  start  off  to  Redbank  as  soon  as 
you  desired.  My  dear  sir,  your  temper  has  not  been 
angelic  of  late,  and  we  hope  that  Jessie  will  take  you  in 
hand." 

Jessie  shook  her  head.  "  I  am  afraid  that  my  influ 
ence  is  not  going  to  prove  very  strong.  He  often  shows 
an  inclination  to  have  his  own  way,  and  I  can  do  nothing 
with  him." 

"Well,"  remarked  the  Judge,  "it  is  said  that  every 
man  is  born  again  when  he  gets  married.  Now,  Jessie,  I 


358 

» 

want  you  to  see  that  Waverley  is  born  right  this  time 
— with  all  proper  tendencies  and  impulses.  Discipline 
him  freely  during  his  childhood,  and  take  a  little  of  the 
wilfulness  out  of  him.  I  turn  him  over  to  you,  my  dear." 

"  I  will  try  my  best,"  she  replied,  "  but  I  know  he 
will  be  difficult  to  manage." 

"  I  daresay  I  shall  be  benefited  by  the  discipline  of 
living  with  her,"  Waverley  coolly  remarked.  "  They 
say  that  women  are  very  hard  to  get  along  with." 

"  Now,  you  invented  that  saying,  Waverley,"  ex 
claimed  Alice ;  "  nobody  ever  said  such  a  thing  but 
yourself." 

The  young  man  pretended  to  ignore  this  accusation 
and  continued  :  •'  They  say  that  women  require  a  lot  of 
petting  and  caressing,  and  coaxing  and  humoring,  other 
wise  they  retire  into  a  little  den  all  their  own  and  pout  I 
You  know  that  is  a  well-established  historical  fact,  Alice. 
And,  furthermore,  I  myself  have  seen  you  through  the 
key-hole  of  your  den,  I  have  seen  you  pouting  until  your 
cheeks  looked  like  the  old  pictures  of  Boreas." 

"  Well,  Waverley  Brooks,  I  would  never  have  sus 
pected  you  of  peeping  through  a  key-hole  ;  I  am  thor 
oughly  shocked  ! "  said  Alice. 

"  Oh !  it  was  when  I  was  a  very  small  boy ;  I  have 
outgrown  such  habits  now ;  but,  all  the  same,  I  believe 
in  pouting,  and  I  daresay  Jessie  is  a  perfect  mistress  of 
the  accomplishment.  I  do  not  want  to  make  the  mis 
take  of  believing  her  better  than  the  rest  of  the  sex.  It 
is  well  to  begin  with  a  low  opinion,  and  gradually  have 
it  improve  than  to  reverse  the  order." 

"  Jessie,  I  would  not  allow  him  to  talk  so  disrespect 
fully  about  me,  if  I  were  in  your  place,"  said  Alice. 

"  I  cannot  help  it,  dear,"  replied  Jessie,  "  he  will  do 
as  he  pleases." 


REDBANK.  359 

"Yes,  I  am  going  to  carry  her  right  off  this  very 
minute,"  said  Waverley.  "  You  are  all  beginning  to 
undermine  my  authority.  Come,  Jessie,  I  want  you  to 
go  upstairs  and  see  my  own  special  sitting-room  and 
belongings." 

"  Prepare  yourself  for  a  disappointment,  young 
gentleman ! "  exclaimed  Alice,  with  a  wicked  little 
laugh ;  "  Jessie  has  already  been  in  that  room,  and 
inspected  all  your  pet  possessions." 

"  When,  I  would  like  to  know  ?  "  he  asked,  some 
what  annoyed. 

"  On  the  very  day  you  left  for  New  York,  last  Feb 
ruary — the  day  after  Nettie  Hunter's  wedding.  Jessie 
called  on  me,  and  I  was  wicked  enough  to  take  her  into 
your  precious  sanctum.  How  we  did  go  round  that 
room,  and  talk  about  you !  We  commented  very  freely 
on  your  extravagance,  your  effeminate  tastes,  and  fond 
ness  for  Oriental  luxury ;  also  your  passion  for  rowing 
by  moonlight,  and  having  young  ladies  play  on  the 
guitar  and  sing  to  you,  in  order  to  make  the  exercise 
less  laborious." 

Waverley  looked  at  Jessie  with  a  crestfallen  air,  and 
asked,  "  Is  that  true,  Jessie  ?  I  require  confirmation 
of  every  statement  Alice  makes." 

"  I'm  afraid  it  is  true,  Waverley,"  said  his  fiancee  ; 
"  but,  never  mind,  I  shall  enjoy  seeing  it  again,  with 
you  as  a  guide.  I  daresay  Alice  gave  me  much  false 
information  which  you  will  be  able  to  correct." 

"  Thank  you  both  for  your  high  opinion  of  me," 
exclaimed  Alice,  trying  to  suppress  her  inclination  to 
laugh. 

"  Well,  come,  Jessie,"  said  the  young  man,  "  I  shall 
lose  my  temper,  if  I  stay  any  longer  in  the  room  with 
that  provoking  young  female,"  nodding  towards  his 


360  HEDBANK. 

cousin.  When  they  entered  the  sanctum,  which  was 
now  brilliantly  lighted,  Waveiiey  turned  and  asked, 
"  How  do  you  like  it,  Jessie  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  is  the  most  beautiful  room  that  I  have 
ever  seen." 

"  Do  you,  indeed?     Now,  that  is  flattering  !  " 

"  Yes ;  but  I  see  you  have  made  some  changes,  and 
the  gaslight  makes  a  difference.  It  does  not  look  like 
the  same  room  that  I  saw  with  Alice,  so  you  need  not 
feel  vexed  that  I  have  already  seen  it." 

"  Is  it  less  beautiful  ?  "  he  asked. 

"No,  it  is  far  more  beautiful."  She  was  silent  for  a 
moment,  then  added,  "  And  your  presence  gives  it  a 
glory  that  it  did  not  have  before." 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said,  gazing  into  her  eyes  with  a 
look  that  was  full  of  tenderness  and  love ;  "  I  am  glad 
to  have  you  feel  that  my  presence  makes  a  difference. 
Yours  would  glorify  a  desert  for  me." 

"  Thank  you  ;  but,  please  don't  be  extravagant.  My 
faith  in  you  will  be  lessened  if  you  talk  too  wildly." 

"  I  will  remember  that  and  try  to  moderate  my  rapt 
ures." 

"  When  I  entered  this  room  before,"  said  Jessie,  "  it 
was  near  sunset,  and  there  was  a  wonderfully  brilliant 
glow  upon  everything.  After  the  sun  was  quite  gone, 
the  room  seemed  still  to  retain  the  rays  of  light.  I 
think  you  have  managed  to  produce  the  effect  of  per 
petual  sunshine." 

"  And  you  found  that  out  yourself  ?"  he  asked. 

"  It  was  not  hard  to  find  out,"  she  replied. 

"  Well,  that  is  just  what  I  aimed  at  when  I  furnished 
the  room.  The  truth  is,  Jessie,  I  have  been  rather  blue 
sometimes  since  I  came  home.  I  seemed  to  be  disap 
pointing  everybody  at  such  a  rate  that  I  felt  disgusted 


REDBANK.  361 

v.'lvli  myself,  and  I  determined  to  fit  up  this  room  so  as 
la  counteract  the  mood.  I  have  not  admitted  a  single 
blue  tone  in  anything— everywhere  you  will  find  glori 
ous  yellow,  which  is  my  favorite  color.  I  am  going 
to  dress  you  up  in  yellow  after  awhile,  Jessie.  I  do  not 
like  those  black  dresses  at  all,  and,  after  we  are  married, 
I  shall  beg  you  to  burn  them  all  up.  I  detest  black — 
unless  it  is  velvet." 

"  You  know  why  I  wear  them,  dear,"  she  whispered, 
with  a  tone  of  sadness  in  her  voice. 

"  But,  my  darling,  I  don't  want  you  to  express  your 
grief  that  way,"  he  said,  very  tenderly.  "  Indeed,  I  don't 
want  you  to  grieve  any  more.  I  shall  try  very  hard  to 
make  you  forget  all  that  is  sad  in  your  past  life." 

Ah !  how  little  he  guessed  her  love  for  Harry,  and 
the  dull  heart-ache  she  often  felt,  when  she  thought  of 
him  lying  in  his  coffin  still  and  cold  under  the  grass. 
She  replied  very  gently : 

"  I  know  that  you  will  do  all  that  you  can  to  make 
me  happy,  and  I  do  not  think  you  will  find  it  a  very- 
hard  task ;  but  you  must  not  be  vexed,  if  I  sometimes 
remember  those  whom  I  have  loved  and  lost." 

He  put  his  arm  around  her,  and  after  a  moment  said : 
"  But  you  will  be  willing  to  give  up  the  black  dresses 
and  crape  veils  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  very  willing  to  wear  whatever  you  like, 
Waverley,"  she  answered,  returning  his  half-smile. 

"  That's  a  good  girl,"  he  whispered,  caressingly. 
"  Jessie,  I  want  you  to  have  more  color ;  you  are  often 
very  pale,  and  black  increases  the  pallor.  It  is  charm 
ing,  to  see  you  blush  ;  it  gives  you  the  last  perfect 
touch." 

She  responded  to  this  by  a  vivid  color,  which  the 
young  man  immediately  commended.  Though  exact- 


362  REDBANK. 

ing  in  some  respects,  and  fond  of  having  his  own  way, 
Waveiiey  Brooks  was  a  model  lover.  He  was  cool  and 
quiet;  he  was  never  familiar — he  never  demanded 
kisses,  nor  caresses,  nor  even  endearing  epithets  as  his 
rightful  claim  ;  he  rather  asked  for  sympathy  and  intel 
lectual  companionship  from  the  woman  whom  he  loved, 
and  he  did  this  in  a  boyish  way  which  gave  a  great 
charm  to  his  manly  and  dignified  manners. 

Soon  he  began  to  show  Jessie  his  art  treasures,  telling 
her  where  each  picture,  or  vase,  or  enamelled  plate 
was  bought,  and  under  what  circumstances.  His  eyes 
glowed  with  delight  at  her  appreciation  of  everything 
and  her  perfect  understanding  of  his  tastes.  "  Jessie, 
it  makes  me  so  happy  to  have  you  sympathize  with 
me  in  my  passion  for  beautiful  things.  Father  has 
rather  a  contempt  for  this  room ;  he  says  it  looks  as  if 
a  sentimental,  luxurious  woman  had  furnished  it.  He 
would  like  to  see  a  great  desk  in  the  centre,  with  piles 
of  law-books  bound  in  calf  upon  it,  and,  perhaps,  a 
bust  or  two  of  Roman  jurists  on  the  top  of  those  shelves. 
Aunt  Kate  is  scarcely  more  merciful  toward  my  weak 
nesses.  Alice  is  a  little  better,  but  she  lacks  genuine 
enthusiasm  for  everything  except  good  literature.  I 
have  so  wanted  some  one  to  understand  this  side  of  my 
nature,  for  it  is  a  very  big  part  of  my  inmost  self." 

He  handled  the  beautiful  vases  with  tenderness,  and 
pointed  out  their  artistic  merits ;  he  showed  her  his 
etchings  and  engravings,  and  found  her  quick  to  choose 
the  best  in  everything.  He  told  her  about  his  pictures 
— when  and  how  they  were  painted.  When  he  came  to 
the  "  moonlight  on  the  water,"  he  flushed  slightly,  and 
said,  "  Do  you  recognize  anybody  there  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  do  ;  it  is  you  who  are  rowing,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  bit  of  my  own  life,  Jessie.     I  came 


REDBANK.  363 

very  near  falling  in  love  with  that  girl.  She  was  Eng 
lish,  and  an  awfully  sweet  blossom.  My  engagement 
with  Alice  saved  me.  It  would  have  been  a  dreadful 
mistake,  for  she  was  very  English  in  her  tastes  and  feel 
ings,  and  could  never  have  been  transplanted  to  America. 
When  I  found  out  that  I  was  becoming  too  much  inter 
ested,  I  packed  my  valise  and  took  to  flight.  So  you 
see  I  did  not  really  fall  in  love,  and  that  incident  was 
not  included  in  my  confession  at  The  Grove  last  fall." 

"  It  is  rather  a  suspicious  circumstance  that  you 
should  have  omitted  it,"  said  Jessie,  smiling.  "  Are 
you  sure  that  you  have  entirely  recovered  from  it  now  ? 
It  would  be  painful  to  have  a  rival,  even  though  she 
were  three  thousand  miles  away." 

"Never  fear,"  he  replied,  "you  have  no  rival  on  this 
green  earth ;  I  have  entirely  recovered  from  all  my 
previous  attachments ;  and  I  shall  turn  this  picture  to 
the  wall." 

"  No,  you  won't.  I  like  it  very  much — the  landscape 
is  charming,  and  the  girl  is  not  so  very  bad." 

"  Sometime,  I  will  paint  her  out  and  put  you  in  her 
place." 

"  No,  I  would  not  like  that  ;  it  would  destroy  the 
verities.  You  are  quite  welcome  to  all  the  pleasant 
things  in  your  past,  Waverley.  I  shall  not  vex  you  by 
my  jealousies.  It  is  enough  that  you  have  chosen  me 
for  your  wife.  I  shall  try  to  be  worthy  in  every  way." 

"  You  are  that  already,  my  darling,"  he  said.  "  I 
have  had  my  fancies  as  other  men  have  them,  but  now 
the  passion  of  my  life  has  come.  You  seem  to  be  a  very 
part  of  myself,  Jessie  ;  you  like  what  I  like,  and  your 
thoughts  fit  into  mine.  I  cannot  bear  to  have  you  away 
from  me — I  feel  incomplete  and  wretched  without  you." 
Pausing  a  moment,  he  slowly  repeated  the  lines, — 


SG-i  REDXANK. 

"  Unless  you  can  muse  in  a  crowd  all  day 

On  the  absent  face  that  fixed  you  ; 
Unless  you  can  love  as  the  angels  may 
With  the  breadth  of  heaven  betwixt  you  ;" 

**  You  know  the  words, — don't  you  ?  "  he  asked. 
"  Oh !  yes,"  she  said,  quickly  adding  the  remainder 
of  the  verse, — 

"  Unless  you  can  dream  that  his  faith  is  fast, 

Through  behoving  and  unbehoving  ; 
Unless  you  can  die  when  the  dream  is  past, — 
Oh!  never  call  it  loving." 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,"  he  said  in  a  low,  tender  tone,  draw 
ing  her  to  him.  They  stood  silently  for  a  few  moments, 
looking  into  each  other's  eyes,  as  if  trying  to  measure  the 
heights  and  depths  of  their  love  and  happiness. 

"  And,  Jessie,  I  am  so  fond  of  travel  too,"  he  con 
tinued  in  his  eager,  joyous  way;  "you  see  my  tastes 
are  awfully  Bohemian,  but  I  cannot  help  it.  I  do  hope 
you  will  sympathize  with  me  in  that,  too  ;  sometimes, 
we  will  tear  up  and  go  to  Europe  for  a  few  months  or 
years,  just  as  we  like.  You  will  not  mind  it,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Mind  it,  dear ! "  she  exclaimed,  her  eyes  dancing 
with  delight ;  "  I  shall  like  it  more  than  tongue  can  tell. 
For  years  it  has  been  my  waking  dream.  But  we  must 
not  make  too  many  plans ;  let's  just  live  along  day 
after  day,  loving  each  other  better  and  better  all  the 
while,  and  not  thinking  much  about  the  future." 

"But  I  must  build  my  chdteaux  en  Espagne,"  he 
said,  "  and  you  will  have  to  help  me  carry  brick  and 
mortar  up  the  hill.  I  always  have  at  least  two  or  three 
castles  on  hand  at  the  same  time,  and  I'm  awful  glad  to 
have  somebody  to  assist  in  making  the  plans." 

She  laughed.  It  pleased  and  surprised  her  to  find 
so  much  boyish  enthusiasm  under  an  exterior  which  had 


REDBANK.  CGf) 

ill  ways  impressed  her  as  rather  cold  and  proud  and  self- 
sufficient.  She  responded  promptly  to  this  new  demand 
upon  her  sympathy. 

"  I  shall  like  to  help  you  about  everything,  dear, — 
only  the  future  is  so  full  of  unexpected  things  that  one 
sometimes  feels  punished  for  daring  to  plan  it  accord 
ing  to  one's  own  wishes." 

"I  don't,"  he  said,  quickly,  with  a  self-confident 
smile;  "I  like  unexpected  things;  often  they  are  far 
better  than  the  things  we  plan  for  ourselves.  For 
instance,  you  are  an  unexpected  gift,  my  darling,  and 
nothing  half  so  beautiful  has  ever  happened  to  me 
before  ;  in  my  wildest  dreams,  I  have  never  imagined 
that  my  wife  would  be  so  sweet  and  perfect  as  your 
self." 

She  expressed  her  thanks  for  such  a  tribute  by  smiles 
instead  of  words.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  he  knew  but 
little  of  disappointment  and  sorrow.  It  did  her  good 
to  be  in  the  presence  of  this  strong,  healthful,  hopeful 
temperament;  it  counteracted  the  slight  tendency  to 
melancholy  which  lurked  in  her  nature. 

"  Now,  go  and  play  for  me,  dearest,"  she  said,  "  and 
I  will  sit  here  in  this  beautiful  chair.  I  long  to  hear 
that  grand  piano  in  this  large,  airy  room." 

He  obeyed,  choosing  the  music  that  he  loved  best, 
feeling  confident  that  it  would  satisfy  her  own  taste. 
She  rested  her  head  against  the  soft  cushion,  and  gave 
herself  up  to  the  delight  of  roaming  in  the  dream-land 
of  love. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

EVERY  evening  Jessie  had  her  spelling  lesson  with  the 
Judge,  but  the  word  seemed  always  too  difficult  for  her 
to  pronounce.  Only  after  the  wedding  was  over,  and 
she  stood  with  her  hand  in  his,  ready  to  say  the  last 
good-bye,  could  she  command  her  lips  to  call  him  father. 

Mrs.  Brooks,  as  she  watched  this  evening  lesson, 
thought  them  very  silly  and  childish,  and  wondered  what 
they  would  do  next ;  but  Alice  and  Waverley  got  much 
quiet  amusement  out  of  their  sparkling  nonsense.  The 
young  man,  especially,  looked  on  with  delight  to  see 
his  father  unbend  and  become  gay  and  playful  in  the 
presence  of  Jessie.  He  was  not  familiar  with  this 
paternal  mood,  and  began  to  have  a  vague  idea  that  the 
girl,  so  soon  to  be  his  wife,  possessed  some  wonderful 
power  to  call  out  whatever  was  sweetest  and  best  in 
others.  He  watched  her  with  a  lover's  eye,  and  saw 
that  she  was  growing  more  beautiful  every  day.  Some 
times  he  wondered  if  she  could  indeed  be  human, 
like  other  women.  No,  she  was  divine ;  and  he  smiled 
to  himself,  for  he  well  knew  that  it  was  his  own  hand 
that  daily  poured  out  the  glass  of  nectar  for  her  lips. 

One  evening,  by  some  chance,  the  Judge  and  Jessie 
found  themselves  alone  in  the  great  drawing-room.  The 
young  girl's  fingers  were  busy  with  some  delicate  sew 
ing,  while  the  gentleman  was  slowly  cutting  and  turn 
ing  the  leaves  of  a  newly-arrived  magazine.  Suddenly 
he  laid  aside  his  book,  and  turning  to  her  said,  "  Jessie, 


REDBANK.  367 

my  dear,  I  wish  you  would  tell  me  something  about  the 
Colonel  and  your  sister — I  mean  something  about  their 
business  affairs.  I'm  afraid  they  are  getting  into  trouble, 
are  they  not  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  so  myself,"  she  answered,  sadly,  "  but  I 
know  very  little  about  it ;  they  are  both  so  proud  and 
reserved." 

Then  she  told  him  about  the  mortgage  on  Redbank. 
The  Judge  was  surprised,  and  remained  silent  a  long 
time,  as  if  pondering  some  weighty  question  of  the  law. 
At  length  he  spoke — "  Jessie,  I  think  I  must  go  to 
the  assistance  of  the  Colonel.  With  all  his  faults,  he 
is  a  fine  old  fellow,  and  must  not  be  driven  to  the  wall. 
I  do  not  like  to  think  that  he  will  ever  be  compelled  to 
give  up  his  plantation — it  would  be  a  deep  humiliation 
for  him.  Like  every  father,  he  wants  to  leave  his  estate 
intact  for  his  son  to  inherit,  and  to  lose  Redbank  would 
be  a  blow  to  his  love  as  well  as  to  his  pride.  I  will  see 
him  and  talk  with  him  as  soon  as  you  and  Waverley  are 
out  of  the  way.  You  two  lovers  keep  me  in  such  a  per 
petual  turmoil  and  nutter,  that  I  am  quite  unfit  for  any 
thing  but  dallying  and  talking  nonsense." 

"  How  good  and  generous  you  are  !  "  cried  the  girl, 
the  tears  springing  to  her  eyes. 

"  If  I  helped  them  out  of  their  troubles,  would  it 
make  you  happier,  my  dear  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Ever  so  much  happier !  "  she  said,  laying  down  her 
work,  and  clasping  her  hands  imploringly.  "  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  it  grieves  me  to  think  of  them." 

"  It  shall  be  done,"  he  replied  in  a  low,  emphatic  tone, 
adding  after  a  few  moments :  "  It  will  be,  perhaps, 
some  little  compensation  to  them  for  losing  you. 
Since  their  loss  is  our  gain,  it  is  only  fair  that  we 
should  be  willing  to  settle  up  accounts,  and  make 


368  REDBANK. 

tilings  square  and  even."  After  a  while,  he  continued — 
"  Jessie,  I  imagine  that  if  you  were  put  up  in  the  market 
of  Stamboul,  like  the  Greek  Slave,  you  would  bring 
several  thousand  dollars.  What  do  you  think  of  it  ?  " 

"  What  put  that  idea  into  your  head  ? "  she  said, 
breaking  into  a  laugh. 

"  Have  you  never  thought  of  your  market  value  ? " 
he  asked,  joining  in  her  mirth. 

"  Never !  never !  I  did  not  even  fancy  that  girls  pos 
sessed  any  market  value  nowadays.  I  thought  it  was 
the  gentlemen  who  were  valuable,  and  every  woman 
was  expected  to  pay  the  man  a  price  for  taking  her. 
Isn't  it  so?" 

"In  some  countries,  perhaps,"  he  said,  " but  happily 
not  in  ours." 

"  Ah !  you  need  not  say  that.  You  know  perfectly 
well  that  a  handsome  dot  makes  a  girl  wonderfully 
attractive,  even  in  this  land  of  the  free  and  home  of 
the  brave." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right.  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart 
to  disagree  with  any  statement  that  you  may  make." 

"  I  feel  very  sorry  not  to  bring  Waverley  a  dower 
worthy  of  his  acceptance,"  she  remarked,  with  a  little 
truthful  ring  in  her  voice,  as  if  she  meant  what  she  said. 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear ;  he  has  a  great  deal  more  now 
than  he  knows  what  to  do  with.  I  only  hope  you  will 
save  him  from  being  ruined  by  having  too  much  money  ; 
that  will  be  far  better  than  bringing  hint  any  more." 

Then  they  fell  into  a  long  silence,  which  was  broken 
at  last  by  the  gentleman. 

"  Jessie,"  he  said,  "  I  do  think  your  sister  and  the 
children  ought  to  get  away  from  Redbank  this  summer. 
The  place  is  very  unhealthy.  That  old  mill-pond  is  a 
fertile  source  of  disease  to  all  the  country  around." 


REDBANK.  309 

"  How  I  wish  they  could  go  away ! "  she  replied, 
"  but  I  am  afraid  it  is  quite  impossible." 

"  Why  should  it  be  impossible  ?  " 

"Because  they  have  no  money.  They  are  waiting 
for  the  ship  to  come  in,  and  it  sails  very  slowly." 

"  Then  you  and  I  will  play  the  part  of  Zephyrus  and 
Eolus ;  we  will  blow  with  all  our  might,  and  make 
the  ship  move  faster." 

"  That  would  be  splendid !  "  she  cried,  her  eyes  glow 
ing  with  happiness.  "  It  is  delightful  to  be  in  partner 
ship  with  a  real  divinity  like  yourself." 

"  I  like  the  partnership  myself,"  he  said,  with  a  quiet 
smile  ;  "  to  be  associated  with  a  divinity  makes  one 
almost  divine.  Now,  listen  to  my  plea.  The  first  of 
July,  perhaps  earlier,  I  am  going  to  take  Kate  and  Alice 
with  me  to  the  Virginia  Springs.  Your  sister  and  the 
children  must  go  with  us :  I  shall  not  accept  any  ex 
cuses.  The  children  will  amuse  Alice,  and  prevent  us 
old  people  from  sinking  into  family  dulness  and  hope 
less  dotage.  You  know  I  have  already  shown  signs  of 
the  approach  of  that  disease." 

Jessie  looked  up .  at  him  with  grateful  tears  in  her 
eyes.  "  Thank  you !  thank  you  ! "  she  whispered.  "  You 
are  the  best  and  noblest  man  that  I  have  ever  known." 

"  Except  Waverley,"  he  answered,  a  tender  expres 
sion  coming  into  his  face. 

"  I  cannot  even  except  him,"  she  said,  dropping  her 
eyes  ;  "  a  part  of  the  love  and  confidence  I  give  him  is 
'  for  your  sake.  I  accept  him  on  trust  because  he  is 
your  son.  Are  you  not  satisfied?  " 

"  I  am  more  than  satisfied,  Jessie,"  he  whispered  in  a 
low  tone. 

The  silence  that  fell  upon  them  was  broken  by  the 
entrance  of  Waverley. 


370  EEDJiANK. 

"  Come  here,  my  son,"  said  the  Judge. 

The  young  man  obeyed,  and  stood  before  his  father 
as  if  awaiting  commands. 

"  I  want  to  thank  you  for  this  sweet  daughter  that 
you  have  given  me.  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that, 
at  one  time,  it  did  not  seem  easy  to  relinquish  other 
plans,  but  that  is  all  over  now,  and  this  new  arrange 
ment  grows  more  and  more  pleasant  every  day.  It 
makes  me  proud  of  you,  Waverley,  to  see  how  wisely 
you  have  chosen  your  wife.  My  son,  I  give  you  my 
blessing," — and  the  Judge  extended  his  hand.  The 
young  man  clasped  it  in  both  of  his,  and  in  a  voice  full 
of  emotion,  said, 

"  Thank  you,  my  father." 

A  few  weeks  later,  Waverley  Brooks  and  his  wife 
were  standing  on  the  deck  of  an  ocean  steamer,  bound 
for  Europe. 

They  were  nearing  the  coast  of  Ireland  ;  it  was  just 
after  dinner,  and  they  had  been  enjoying  a  brisk  prome 
nade.  Now  they  had  paused  beside  the  railing  to  look 
out  over  the  sea,  and  to  drink  in  great  draughts  of  salt 
air  which  was  blowing  stiffly  from  the  west  and  driving 
them  rapidly  towards  the  Old  World. 

"Do  you  like  it,  Jessie? "  he  whispered  softly,  clasp 
ing  her  hand  more  tightly  within  his  own. 

"How  can  you  ask?"  she  answered,  looking  up  at 
him  with  a  great  love  in  her  eyes.  "  It  is  all  so  beauti 
ful  !  so  beautiful ! " 

Her  voice  died  away  in  the  vain  attempt  to  give  ex 
pression  to  the  happiness  that  filled  her  soul  to  over 
flowing. 

THE  E1STD. 


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COPLEY   SQUARE   SERIES  — Continued. 


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Is  This  Your  Son,  My  Lord? 

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Is  This  Your  Son,  My  Lord? 

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and  hypocrisy.  Price:  paper,  50  cents ;  cloth,  $1.00. 

Pray  You,  Sir,  Whose  Daughter  ? 

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Lessons  Learned  from  Other  Lives. 

By  B.  O.  FLOWER. 

There  are  fourteen  biographies  in  this  volume,  dealing1  with  the  lives 
of  Seneca  and  Epictetus,  the  great  Roman  philosophers ;  Joan  of  Arc, 
the  warrior  maid ;  Henry  Clay,  the  statesman ;  Edwin  Booth  and 
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